US ‘understands’ PH stance on ICC – Castro
MANILA, Philippines — The United States understands if the Philippines will not support the Trump administration’s call asking countries to withdraw support from the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to its “residual obligations” tied to an ongoing case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Palace press officer Claire Castro on Thursday said that while the ICC was not discussed when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid a courtesy call on President Marcos in Malacañang on July 22, the topic was brought up by Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez on the sidelines of their meeting.
According to Castro, Romualdez conveyed to the US Department of State that matters involving the ICC and the Philippines are “a sensitive issue.”
“He also explained the Philippines’ residual obligations related to the ICC, including its cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol),” she said.
READ: Why the US is going after the International Criminal Court
“And when we asked the ambassador about the reaction of the state department representative, he said they understood the sensitivity of the issue for our country,” Castro added.
Malacañang earlier said the government is reviewing its policy with regards to cooperating with the ICC following the US government’s latest campaign to have the tribunal dismantled.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently assessing the possible implications of the US position. Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she would first consult with the President before announcing the government’s official stance.
Rubio-led campaign
In a video message earlier this week, Rubio said the campaign includes stepping up sanctions against “foreign bureaucrats” who constitute the court.
READ: US launches campaign to ‘dismantle’ ICC
“We will watch with interest which nations join ranks with us against this threat to Americans who are willing to risk their lives to protect others,” Rubio also said.
According to the US state department, the campaign will pressure other nations “to withdraw from the ICC and cut off any financial support to the court.”
It also warned that “nations that refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on US assistance are likely to come under increased scrutiny.”
Despite its withdrawal from the ICC in 2019 during the Duterte administration, the Philippines continues to serve the warrants of arrest issued by the Hague-based tribunal in connection the case against the former president.
In March 2025, Philippine authorities assisted the Interpol in arresting Duterte based an order from the ICC, where he is now on trial for crimes against humanity over the killings committed during his so-called war on drugs.
Coperpetrators
The ICC has also issued a warrant of arrest against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has been tagged a “coperpetrator” in the case for being the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief who enforced the bloody crackdown.
Dela Rosa first went into hiding in November last year, then surfaced at the Senate last May to help Duterte allies stage a leadership coup in the chamber.
The National Bureau of Investigation failed to serve the ICC arrest on Dela Rosa as he was “protective custody” by then Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. He slipped out of the Senate after three days and had since remained at large.
The other coperpetrators named by the ICC are Sen. Bong Go, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguire II, former Davao City police chiefs Vicente Danao and Isidro Lapeña, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde and former National Bureau of Investigation chief Dante Gierran. /cb
