Senior lawmakers have openly called on the United States government to impose sanctions against Filipinos who aided the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the arrest and subsequent detention of former president Rodrigo Duterte in The Netherlands.
Duterte allies Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Sen. Imee Marcos said a punitive measure from the American government would be possible under an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. The EO issued on February 6, 2025 “unequivocally opposes…any ICC actions against the United States, Israel, or any other ally of the United States that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”
Senator Marcos pointed out during a Senate hearing she presided that Duterte is a former leader of an US-allied nation that has severed ties with the ICC since 2018.
The senator is the elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who has constantly sided with the Duterte family in its rift with the administration.
Senator Marcos said Police Major General Nicolas Torre, the arresting officer of Duterte, is a likely candidate for a U.S. sanction. She also mentioned the names of retired police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo who both testified against Duterte in a congressional hearing last year.
The two retired police officials supposedly played key roles in the killings of suspected drug personalities during Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign from 2016 to 2022.
In Trump’s executive order, punishment included funding cut, asset freeze and an entry ban to the U.S. for sanctioned individuals and member of their family.
Senator Dela Rosa for his part warned the owner of the Gulfstream G550 jet plane that flew the arrested Duterte from Manila to The Hague to prepare for U.S. sanctions.
According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the jet has been in a multi-year lease to the Office of the President. The cabinet official did not reveal the aircraft’s owner although unverified media reports trace the ownership to an aviation company controlled by business tycoon Ramon Ang.
“Sigurado ako kung may-ari ka ng eroplano, mayroon kang ari-arian sa Amerika, kaya prepare for the repercussions of your actions, dahil very clear ‘yan sa executive order na in-issue ni President Trump,” said Dela Rosa during the recent Senate hearing.
(I am certain that if you own an aircraft, you have properties in the United States so better prepare for the repercussions of your actions because that’s very clear in the executive order issued by President Trump.)
The Senator proposed that the findings culled during the hearings on Duterte’s arrest be transmitted to the U.S. government, saying it is the Senate’s “moral obligation.”
The Senator believes he could be the next target of an ICC arrest warrant for his role in Duterte’s drug war. Dela Rosa national police chief from 2016 to 2018.
In Malacanang, Press Undersecretary Claire Castro said she saw no reason for Senator Dela Rosa to seek U.S. intervention.
Claiming she studied the content of Trump’s order, the Palace press official said the U.S. still respects the prerogatives of any other state.
“Kung ang bansa po natin at pamahalaan natin ay nagkaroon ng pagdedesisyon ayon sa ating RA 9851 at sa pakikipag-cooperate sa Interpol, iyon naman po ay hindi naman po hahadlangan ng US at irerespeto po nila iyong sovereign prerogatives ng bansa,” Castro said.
(If our country and our government decides based on Republic Act 9851 and we cooperated with the Interpol, the US government respects that.)
