Philippines Lawyer Urges Supreme Court to Halt Government Cooperation with ICC

MANILA — A Philippine attorney has petitioned the Supreme Court to block all state agencies from assisting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its probe targeting ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and his former police chief, Ronald dela Rosa. The filing, confirmed by lawyer Israelito Torreon to Reuters on Tuesday, seeks to prohibit Philippine authorities from engaging with the ICC amid its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

The decision comes after allegations that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Duterte; however, Philippine officials have not confirmed that the warrant has been carried out. Stressing the nation's sovereignty, Torreon said that domestic courts, not the ICC, have jurisdiction over the issue. The ICC restarted its investigation last year after Manila's request to halt it was denied, and the petition highlights the growing hostilities between Duterte's administration and the court.