Pending cases before the International Criminal Court involving Filipino respondents were raised with the US Department of State by Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters Thursday.
Castro said the envoy characterized the matter as “a serious matter” in his exchanges with American officials, and that the discussion touched on Manila’s continuing responsibilities even after its exit from the Rome Statute.
“He mentioned about the residual obligation of the Philippines, and the [country’s] cooperation with the Interpo,” Castro said in Filipino.
Asked how US officials received the message, the Palace official relayed Romualdez’s account of the response. “And when we asked from ambassador [Romualdez] about the reaction of the representative of the State Department, he said that they understand this sensitive natter,” she said.
The subject did not come up during Wednesday’s courtesy call between US State Secretary Marco Rubio and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Castro. That meeting excluded any mention of Washington’s declared intent to “systematically disable” the tribunal by pushing other governments to abandon the Rome Statute.
Castro pointed to the specific cases driving Philippine interest in the court’s operations when asked to expand on her earlier remarks. “We all know the issue between the Philippines and the ICC. There are pending cases in the ICC wherein the accused or respondents are Filipinos,” she said.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa face crimes against humanity charges tied to the drug war waged under the previous administration. Dela Rosa’s location has been unknown since May 14, 2026, when he learned an ICC arrest order had been issued against him.
