MANILA, March 20 — The Philippines remains an independent nation, the Malacañan Palace said today, rejecting claims that it 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.
The Philippines News Agency reported her remarks as a 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, she expressed dismay over the government's decision to allow "outsiders" to take custody of the former leader.
Malacañan maintained that the administration was simply following the law and fulfilling its obligations under established legal frameworks.
Castro added that the government was acting under the Republic Act 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 November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
He is currently detained at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, the Netherlands, and will appear before the international court on September 23 to confirm the charges against him.
— Bernama
