Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said the United States opposition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should not be interpreted as that of the country.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the clarification after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration is launching an effort to dismantle what it described as the ICC threat to US sovereignty.

“Hindi sakop ng ating gobyerno ang polisiya ng bansang US,” Castro said in a message to reporters.

[Translation: Our government is not covered by the US policy.]

Rubio said Washington rejects the ICC authority over the US and is stepping up efforts against the tribunal, continuing a long-standing US position that the court should not have jurisdiction over American citizens, particularly members of its military.

The Palace said the US policy is independent of the Philippines, which has been cooperating with the tribunal in connection with the crimes against humanity for murder case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte is in ICC custody in The Hague, Netherlands. His case involved killings linked to his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed the charges in April, and trial is on Nov. 30.

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 during the Duterte’s administration. However, the ICC has ruled that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the treaty.