The Philippines will cooperate with the ICC if warrants are issued against Duterte allies
By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, A reporter
The Philippines will cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues arrest warrants for people linked to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, Malacañang said on Monday, showing that Manila is willing to help despite withdrawing from the court.
“If this plan continues, that’s what this government wants,” said Palace Press chief Clarissa A. Castro in a press conference in Filipino. “Everything that this government does goes through the process.”
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2018, with it taking effect in 2019. However, Mrs. Castro said authorities could still cooperate in issuing arrest warrants through the International Criminal Police Organization, similar to the method used when Mr. Duterte arrested in 2025.
Over the weekend, the ICC identified several prominent individuals as participants in the drug war, including senators Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go. Mr. Duterte is being held in The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity.
Others named in the court documents are former Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II; former Philippine National Police officers Vicente D. Danao, Jr., Camilo P. Cascolan and Oscar D. Albayalde; former National Bureau of Investigation officer Dante A. Gierran; and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro S. Lapeña.
The ICC has yet to issue warrants for their arrest.
Mr. Aguirre and Mr. Go denied the allegations. Mr. Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since Nov. 11, 2025, when the first reports emerged about a possible warrant.
His lawyer, Israelto P. Torreon, earlier said that the ICC disclosure was a process and does not mean he is guilty.
Ms. Castro urged those who were summoned to avoid the authorities if they maintain their innocence.
“If you’re hiding, what does that mean?” he asked. “There’s no need to hide when you know you’re not wrong.”
Confirmation of Mr. Duterte’s hearing is scheduled for February 23, 24, 26 and 27.
According to a smaller version of the indictment from the ICC Prosecutor’s Office, Mr. Duterte and his allies shared a “general plan or agreement to eliminate criminal suspects” through violent means, including murder.
Prosecutors said Mr. Duterte is guilty of three counts of crimes against humanity involving the deaths of at least 76 people.
These include the killing of 19 people while he was Mayor of Davao City, the 14 killings of suspected high-ranking suspects, and the 43 deaths of low-level suspects nationwide from 2016 to 2018.
Legal and foreign policy analysts said the Marcos administration’s stance reflects a broader effort to show adherence to international law.
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, who teaches diplomacy at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said that the government’s position shows the intention to cooperate with the ICC and strengthen the details of the law.
He noted that the cases occurred before the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, providing the legal basis for the court’s jurisdiction.
“The very fact that the crime took place years before such withdrawal serves as a sign that our National Government is handling this issue,” he said, dismissing allegations that the cooperation was purely political.
Francis M. Esteban, a faculty member at the Department of International Studies at Far Eastern University, said the move strengthens the Philippines’ image as a law-based actor in the international system despite pressure from international institutions.
He said the administration seems to be confirming its opinion that international norms and institutions must be respected, even if there are political disagreements.
Mr. Cortez added that cooperation with the ICC is also in line with Manila’s broader diplomatic goals, including its request for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and efforts to maintain credibility among foreign partners.
