MANILA: (Bernama) The Philippines remains an independent nation, Malacanang said on Thursday (March 20), rejecting claims that the country has surrendered its sovereignty following former President Rodrigo Duterte’s transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"We never intended to become a province of anything because we are an independent country," said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, as reported by the Philippines News Agency (PNA).
Her remarks were in response to Senator Imee Marcos, who questioned whether the Philippines had become a "province of The Hague."
During a Senate hearing on Duterte’s arrest, Marcos expressed dismay over the government's decision to allow "outsiders" to take custody of the former leader.
Malacanang maintained that the administration was simply following the law and fulfilling its obligations under established legal frameworks.
Castro further explained that the government was acting under the Republic Act (RA) 9851, which grants authorities the power to surrender or extradite accused individuals in the Philippines to the appropriate international court.
Duterte is facing charges at the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs, which took place between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.
He is currently detained at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, Netherlands and is set to appear before the international court on 23 September to confirm the charges against him. - Bernama-PNA
