US call to quit ICC won’t affect Duterte trial, Palace says

The call by the US President for member states to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not affect the ongoing trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said yesterday. Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity over the deaths linked to his administration's "war on drugs." Speaking before the United Nations on Tuesday, the US President described the ICC as "out of control" and "rogue," urging countries to quit the institution immediately. He also vowed not to permit US soldiers to face "show trials" before an "anti-American tribunal." In response to the US stance, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s position on the ICC remains unchanged. Marcos had previously indicated that it was not yet time for the Philippines to rejoin the ICC. Meanwhile, Duterte's defense team has asked the ICC to reject the prosecution's request to accept the testimony of one of its witnesses. Defense lawyer Peter Haynes argued that while the prosecution asserts the witness, identified as P-1100, can provide evidence of the Davao Death Squad's (DDS) modus operandi, the evidence shows the witness had no personal knowledge of this modus operandi, or the structure, operations, hierarchy, or command of any such group. This development underscores the potential continuation of accountability proceedings related to the "war on drugs," a policy that drew significant international criticism during Duterte's presidency. While the US pressure on the ICC may reignite debates about international justice, its direct impact on Philippine domestic politics and the Marcos administration's foreign policy stance remains uncertain.