Tinio: Like Duterte, Trump moves to distance US from the ICC

The recent call of United States President Donald Trump for all nations to resign from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a move to avoid accountability for their numerous cases of human rights violations around the world, a lawmaker said.

ACT Teacher’s Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio told the DAILY TRIBUNE that Trump was pulling a move similar to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who led the country’s formal exit from the international tribunal in 2018.

Highlighting similar issues faced by both leaders, he said that the call was meant to ensure that he too would not be called to answer for the injustices that have transpired in several countries because of US forces.

“Just as Duterte withdrew to avoid accountability for crimes against humanity caused by his war on drugs, Trump is leading the attack on the ICC to avoid accountability for the US as the worst violator of human rights and international humanitarian law in the world,” Tinio said.

The human rights advocate noted that Trump’s administration had likewise expressed its support for the actions of Israel against Palestine, undermining the genocide that was taking place in the nation.

He further noted that the US President had unlawfully “invaded” Venezuela and waged war against Iran without any “provocations.”

“The US must be held accountable for its crimes against the people of the world, through the ICC and all other available venues,” he stressed.

The statements of Tinio came as a reaction to Trump’s message to nations that were still part of the international tribunal which was first established in 2002.

Contrary to the Philippines, the US had never become a part of the ICC as it did not sign the Rome Statute–the international multilateral treaty of the court.

"The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court," Trump said during the United Nations General Assembly.

"I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately," he added.

Reports have also detailed that the Trump administration was in the process of preparing sanctions against the ICC as part of its wider campaign to “isolate the court.”