Malacañang is confident that the United States will respect the Philippines’ “sovereign prerogative” in handling the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This statement was made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro after Senator Bato Dela Rosa called on US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on individuals involved in the transfer of ex-President Duterte to the ICC.
Dela Rosa highlighted an Executive Order signed by Trump in February, which authorized economic and travel sanctions against individuals working with the ICC and conducting investigations into US citizens and its allies, including Israel.
The Executive Order explicitly states that the US and its allied countries can refuse to cooperate with any ICC actions.
Castro emphasized that despite the Philippines being an ally of the US, the government is confident that the United States will recognize the country’s right to act on the matter.
