Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States understands the Philippines’ position on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Malacañang said Thursday, after Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez raised the issue with officials of the U.S. State Department.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Romualdez described the ICC issue as a “sensitive” matter for the Philippines, citing the country’s residual obligations following its withdrawal from the Rome Statute and its continued cooperation with Interpol.
“Binanggit po niya na ang isyu patungkol sa ICC at ng Pilipinas ay isang sensitibong bagay. At binanggit din po niya ang residual obligation ng Pilipinas pati po ang pakikipag-cooperate sa Interpol,” Castro said.
[Translation: He said the ICC issue involving the Philippines is a sensitive matter. He also cited the Philippines’ residual obligations as well as its cooperation with Interpol.]
Castro said U.S. officials acknowledged the Philippine government’s position.
“Noong tinanong po natin kay Ambassador Romualdez kung ano po ang naging reaksiyon ng representative ng State Department, ang sabi po ay nauunawaan ang sensitibong bagay na ito sa ating bansa.”
[Translation: When we asked Ambassador Romualdez about the State Department’s response, he said U.S. officials understood that this is a sensitive issue for the Philippines.]
The Palace official said the ICC was not discussed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Instead, Castro said the president highlighted the longstanding alliance between the Philippines and the United States and discussed the proposed Pax Silica initiative.
“Ipinagmamalaki ng Pangulo kung gaano kalalim ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at ng US. At napag-usapan, nabanggit ang Pax Silica, at hindi po napag-usapan ang patungkol sa ICC.”
[Translation: The President emphasized the deep relationship between the Philippines and the United States. They discussed the Pax Silica initiative, but the ICC was not discussed.]
Asked what makes the issue sensitive, Castro said it involves pending ICC cases against Filipino respondents, including former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and other alleged co-perpetrators.
“Alam naman natin kung ano ngayon ang isyu ng Pilipinas at ng ICC. May mga kaso na naka-pending sa ICC na ang mga akusado o respondents dito ay mga Pilipino, mga dating opisyal—rather, mayroon pa palang incumbent – dating Pangulo, si Senator Bato at mga iba pang co-perpetrators.”
[Translation: We know the issue between the Philippines and the ICC. There are pending ICC cases involving Filipino respondents, including former officials—indeed, there is still an incumbent official—as well as former President Duterte, Senator Bato and other alleged co-perpetrators.]
