Sanctions imposed by the United States will not stop the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ongoing investigation and trial into the Philippine “war on drugs,” particularly the cases involving former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
This was emphasized by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) in an official statement aiming to debunk circulating rumors that the court would shut down or that Duterte would be automatically released due to pressure from US President Donald Trump.
According to the NUPL, the sanctions pose no direct risk to the proceedings because the ICC does not rely on US funding, nor does it host any physical facilities within the US.
The group added that the ICC is an independent tribunal founded on accountability for grave crimes and will not bow to the whims of a few.
Duterte’s case is expected to move forward to the trial stage by the end of November 2026. Although the decision on Duterte’s fitness to stand trial remains pending, the trial chamber has confirmed that he must remain in detention.
However, the NUPL acknowledged an “indirect danger” or indirect impact of Trump’s sanctions on the operations and personal transactions of court officials.
Currently, several sanctions are already in place, freezing assets within US jurisdictions, restricting access to US-linked financial and software services, and barring US entry for 11 ICC officials, including nine judges.
The NUPL condemned these US actions as an affront to judicial independence and the rule of law.
The group also clarified that even if member countries withdraw from the ICC as commanded by Trump, the withdrawal would only take effect one year after a formal notice.
Because of this, the NUPL believes Duterte’s case will be resolved sooner than the court could ever be dissolved.
The NUPL urged state-parties to utilize “blocking statutes” to obstruct the extra-territorial effects of unreasonable US legislation.
At the same time, the group challenged the Marcos administration to stand with humanity and fight injustice by supporting the ICC process. # (ZIA LUNA)
