Rubio-Marcos meeting skipped ICC issue

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not include discussions on the Trump administration’s campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), Malacañang said Thursday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez separately raised the ICC issue with the US State Department.

“He said the ICC issue involving the Philippines is a sensitive matter. He also discussed the country’s residual obligations and its cooperation with Interpol,” Castro said.

She added that the State Department understood the Philippines’ delicate position as several ICC cases involving former and incumbent Filipino officials remain pending.

Rubio earlier said Washington would work to curb the court’s ability to investigate or prosecute Americans, while the State Department said it would also encourage other countries to withdraw support for the Hague-based tribunal.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is awaiting trial before the ICC on three counts of crimes against humanity over killings linked to his anti-drug campaign.