Former Duterte Spokesman Accuses ICC of Serving Western Powers' Interests
Quick Look
Harry Roque, former spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, accused the International Criminal Court of being used by Western powers to control former colonies while shielding their own nationals from prosecution, citing the lack of indictments against US or Western European leaders despite Duterte's ICC warrant over alleged crimes against humanity in his drug war.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and transferred to The Hague on an ICC warrant alleging crimes against humanity during his war on drugs. Harry Roque, his former spokesman, made these comments following Duterte's first public appearance since the arrest.
The Western powers have used the International Criminal Court (ICC) to keep former colonies “in line” while shielding their own nationals from its justice, Harry Roque, former spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, told RT on Wednesday.
His comments came after Duterte made his first public appearance since his arrest in March 2025 and transfer to The Hague on an ICC warrant alleging crimes against humanity during his war on drugs.
“At the time Duterte was charged, only African individuals have been tried... by the court,” Roque said. He argued that the ICC had sought to counter accusations of selective justice, particularly from members of the African Union.
However, no sitting or former president of the US or Western Europe has ever been indicted by the court, Roque pointed out.
He argued that this had fueled perceptions in former colonies such as the Philippines that the ICC serves as a means for former colonial powers to continue influencing newly independent states.
“The powers behind the ICC want their former colonies to stand in line, but they don’t want their own nationals to be subjected to justice,” Roque said.
Roque also accused the ICC of having a “schizophrenic personality,” arguing that it seeks to dispense international justice despite several of the world’s most powerful countries remaining outside its jurisdiction.
Russia, China, India, and the US are not parties to the Rome Statute – the treaty that established the court.
According to Roque, the imbalance is unlikely to change unless nuclear-armed powers agree to submit to the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Watch the full interview below:
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The ICC will face increased pressure to reform its jurisdiction or expand accountability to include nationals of powerful non-member states.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Will the ICC proceed with the case against Duterte?
- How will other non-member states respond to the criticism of the ICC's jurisdiction?
- Are there ongoing efforts to reform the ICC to address perceptions of bias?
