US sanctions on ICC unlikely to derail Duterte trial, says lawyer

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 27, 2026

Photo Courtesy: International Criminal Court

Possible U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court are unlikely to stop or significantly alter the ongoing case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to his victims’ representative lawyer Maria Kristina Conti.

Conti said the Duterte case is already moving through the ICC’s judicial process, with the trial scheduled to begin on November 30, 2026.

The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on the ICC, including sanctions against senior court officials and moves that could expand restrictions to the institution itself. The proposed measures could limit the court’s access to the U.S.-dominated financial system and affect its ability to obtain certain goods and services.

Conti said such measures would not automatically invalidate or terminate the Duterte proceedings. The ICC has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in the Philippines while the country was still a party to the Rome Statute, covering the period from November 2011 to March 2019.

The ICC’s Appeals Chamber also confirmed in April that the court retains jurisdiction over the Philippines situation. Later that month, the Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed all charges against Duterte and committed the case to trial.

The former president has been detained in The Hague since his March 2025 arrest and transfer to ICC custody. His defense team continues to challenge aspects of the prosecution’s case, while the court has proceeded with preparations for the November trial.

The developments come as the Philippine government maintains that it will not rejoin the ICC for now. Malacañang has also said the U.S. pressure on the tribunal does not affect the ongoing proceedings against Duterte.

With the trial date approaching, the case is therefore continuing despite the growing confrontation between Washington and the international tribunal. The potential impact of broader U.S. sanctions would depend on the specific measures eventually imposed and how the ICC and its partners respond.