The Philippines has no control over United States policies, including Washington’s call to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its alleged threat to American sovereignty, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Philippine government could not intervene in policy decisions made by the US.
“Hindi sakop ng ating gobyerno ang polisiya ng bansang US,” Castro said in a message to the media.
“The policies of the United States are beyond our own government,” she added.
In a separate television interview, Castro said the Philippines respects the policies and position of the US.
She said that regarding the ICC, the Philippine government would continue to follow its own laws.
The Philippines formally withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in March 2019.
Castro has repeatedly said the Marcos administration maintains its position that the country will not rejoin the international court.
She also said there had been no new discussions within the administration about returning to the ICC.
The US earlier said it would campaign for the dismantling of the ICC, which it considers a threat to its sovereignty, and encourage other countries to withdraw from the international body.