Malacañang maintains that the US will respect the Philippines’ “sovereign prerogative” regarding the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, despite potential US sanctions.
The assertion comes after Senator Ronald Dela Rosa urged US President Donald Trump to sanction those involved in Duterte’s transfer to the ICC, citing a Trump executive order that allows for economic and travel sanctions against individuals aiding ICC investigations of US citizens or allies.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that while the Philippines could fall under the purview of Trump’s February executive order, which aims to protect US allies from ICC jurisdiction, she believes the US acknowledges the Philippines’ right to act independently.
Castro cited a portion of the executive order stating, “The United States remains committed to the accountability and to the peaceful cultivation of international order at the ICC. And the parties to the Rome Statute must expect the decisions of the United States and other countries not to subject their personnel to the ICC’s jurisdiction consistent with their respective sovereign prerogatives.”
“This means the US respects the prerogatives of its allies,” Castro explained, arguing that the US would not interfere with the Philippines’ decision to cooperate with Interpol and implement its own laws, such as Republic Act 9851.
Castro dismissed Dela Rosa’s call for sanctions, stating, “I see no reason for Senator Bato to go to the US and ask for help to freeze the assets of the owner of the aircraft.” This statement directly contradicts Dela Rosa’s warning to the owner of the Gulfstream G550 jet, RP-C5219, used to transport Duterte to The Hague, to “prepare for the repercussions of his actions.”
Senator Imee Marcos meanwhile revealed that the same jet has been frequently used by her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This revelation has fueled speculation about potential political implications and the delicate balance between Philippine sovereignty and its alliance with the US. The case highlights the tension between international legal obligations and national interests, as the Philippines navigates its relationship with both the ICC and the United States.