CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A pro-Duterte group is claiming the recent sanctions imposed by the United States on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is just the beginning of a “global reckoning” for those pushing for the prosecution of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague.

Benito Ranque, convenor of the Return Duterte Movement, said Saturday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement of sanctions against the ICC judges was not only a response to the court’s actions against Israel and the US but also a sign of mounting pressure against the arrest of Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity.

“These ICC judges are the same people behind the illegitimate arrest and detention of Tatay Digong, a former president of a close US ally,” Ranque said.”

The judges sanctioned were Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, Beti Hohler of Slovenia, and Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. All four had roles in key rulings involving US and Israeli officials, and notably, Judge Hohler was involved in Duterte’s case.

Under a revived executive order originally signed by former US President Donald Trump in 2020, the US Treasury has been authorized to freeze the assets of these judges, while the State Department is tasked with identifying additional individuals for sanctions over a 60-day period.

The ICC quickly responded, strongly condemning the sanctions as a direct attack on its judicial independence.

In a statement, the court said the measures were a “clear attempt to undermine” its ability to deliver accountability, adding, “Targeting those working for accountability does nothing to help civilians trapped in conflict. These sanctions are not only directed at designated individuals, they also target all those who support the Court. They are aimed against innocent victims in all situations before the Court.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk weighed in, urging the US to immediately withdraw the sanctions.

He said, “Attacks against judges run directly counter to respect for the rule of law and the equal protection of the law — values for which the US has long stood.”

Despite the international backlash, US Secretary of State Rubio doubled down, saying the ICC was politicized and “falsely claims unfettered discretion” to prosecute US nationals and those of allied countries. He said this posed a threat to the sovereignty and national security of the United States and its partners, including Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was among those recently issued arrest warrants by the ICC for alleged war crimes in Gaza, thanked Rubio and President Trump for standing up for Israel.

The ICC had also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif — who was later reportedly killed in an airstrike. Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the ICC’s findings.

Ranque believes the US sanctions could eventually extend to individuals in the Philippines who assisted the ICC in its investigation into Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign. He warned that those “collaborators” may find themselves targeted for sanctions without prior notice.

When ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan pushed the case against Duterte forward, he too found himself sanctioned under the same executive order. Khan has since taken a leave of absence amid a separate investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.

For Duterte’s supporters, the recent wave of criticism against the ICC is a welcome development. Ranque said it proved that the court’s credibility was eroding.

“The world is waking up,” he said. “You can’t keep hiding behind the robes of justice while targeting those who dared to boldly lead. Duterte doesn’t belong in jail; he belongs back in Malacañang.”