Palace: Marcos still not keen on rejoining ICC

September 23, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not changed his mind on the Philippines not rejoining the International Criminal Court for now, Malacañang said on Wednesday amid United States President Donald Trump’s call to member-states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

“Hindi pa po napapanahon ang pag-rejoin sa ICC sa ngayon,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro in a press briefing.

At the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Trump said the ICC a “rogue institution” and that it is being run by an “evil group of people.”

Castro said Marcos’ position on the Philippines not rejoining the ICC is still the same.

“Kung ano po iyong kanyang nasabi before, patungkol sa pagre-rejoin sa ICC, hanggang sa ngayon ay ‘yun pa rin po ang stance ng ating Pangulo,” she said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC. He ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in March 2018.

“Nakikita sa ngayon, pangkalahatan naman, ay nakikita natin ‘yung umuusad ang hearing sa nasabing kaso ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.

“Ang mga complainants, ang mga abogado, ang mga prosecutors, kahit naman po ang depensa, ay nakikita po natin na iginagalang nila ang umaandar na paghi-hearing, paglilitis sa nasabing kaso na kinakaharap ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” she added.