Malacañang has distanced itself from the United States government’s campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the issue is a matter of American policy and not one for the Philippine government.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the campaign launched by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump does not involve the Philippines.
“The issue is the policy of the United States and is not within the jurisdiction of the Philippine government,” Castro said.
The statement came after the Trump administration announced a government-wide campaign against the ICC, saying it would encourage other countries to withdraw from the international tribunal.
The United States has accused the ICC of threatening its sovereignty and its ability to investigate or prosecute American citizens.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the court, saying in a video posted on X that the ICC was “waging a war” against the United States through international law. He said the U.S. would not “sit by as the ICC and its allies seek to threaten Americans.”
Rubio added, “We will teach the ICC the full meaning of American resolve.”
A U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that several measures are being considered against the ICC. These include travel bans, visa revocations, expanded sanctions against the court and affiliated organizations, and diplomatic efforts to persuade other countries to withdraw from the tribunal.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department said, “No diplomatic option will be off-limits in the campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to Americans.”
Despite the developments, Malacañang maintained that the U.S. campaign remains an internal policy matter and did not announce any change in the Philippine government’s position regarding the ICC.
