The International Criminal Court (ICC) has declined to address the accusations made by Vice President Sara Duterte, firmly asserting its status as an independent international judicial institution.
The tribunal’s response follows a speech delivered by Duterte to her supporters near the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, on July 29, where she labeled the court a “lapdog” and “puppet” of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
“The International Criminal Court will not comment on these statements,” ICC spokesperson Oriane Millet stated.
“ICC is an international judicial institution which carries out its mandate independently and impartially, in accordance with its founding treaty, the Rome Statute,” she added.
The ICC operates under a Presidency elected from among its judges, who are chosen by the Assembly of States Parties. This assembly maintains legislative and oversight authority over the tribunal and approves its annual operating budget, which stands at €196,852,900 for 2026.
Malacañang previously brushed off Duterte’s outbursts against President Marcos and the ICC, dismissing them as “baseless, senseless, useless, and nonsense.”
Meanwhile, Trillanes pushed back in a social media post, arguing that the Vice President’s claims were ungrounded and stressing the tribunal’s autonomy.
“Nahihibang na talaga si Sara. Ang ICC ay hindi tuta nino man. Ang kaso ni Digong sa ICC ay bunga ng isang malalim na imbestigasyon na inabot ng ilang taon. Bukod pa rito, alam nating mga Pilipino na totoong nangyari ang libu-libong patayan dahil sa war on drugs policy ni Digong,” Trillanes said.