Rise Up for Life and for Rights on Sunday said reported US sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not derail the tribunal’s proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte and the investigation into the country’s war on drugs.
The group, citing the ICC’s independent mandate and legal framework, said Duterte would not be automatically released nor would the court immediately shut down because of pressure from the United States.
“Contrary to circulating rumors, the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not immediately close nor Rodrigo Roa Duterte be automatically released upon pressure by the United States of America and their President Donald Trump,” the group said.
It stressed that the ICC is not dependent on US funding and that none of its physical facilities are hosted by the United States.
Rise Up for Life and for Rights said the ICC is a consent- and rules-based tribunal established to ensure accountability for grave crimes, adding that the Philippine situation was brought before the court through various channels, including victims of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The group said the Duterte case had undergone the ICC’s legal processes and that it saw no immediate threat to the proceedings from the reported sanctions.
“We see no direct risk of the sanctions to the proceedings, as the Duterte case moves on to trial stage by end of November 2026,” it said.
Duterte remains detained at the ICC while the Trial Chamber considers issues concerning his fitness to stand trial.
The group noted that the chamber has ordered that he remain in detention.
However, it warned of possible indirect effects if the US measures disrupt the ICC’s institutional operations, including financial, communications and software services.
It said some sanctions have already affected ICC officials, including restrictions on financial assets, access to US-linked services and travel to the United States.
“Eleven officials, including nine judges, already have serious issues with finances and communications,” the group said.
Rise Up also pointed out that any withdrawal by ICC member states would not take effect immediately by noting that formal withdrawal requires a year’s notice.
“Duterte’s case will be sooner resolved than the court dissolved,” the group said.#