A Palace official has reacted to Senator Imee Marcos’ statement that former president Rodrigo Duterte could be a “protected person” under US President Donald Trump's sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

Imee Marcos asks if Duterte a 'protected person' under Trump's order vs ICC

Trump’s order authorizes economic and travel sanctions targeting people who work on ICC investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies such as Israel. The sanctions coincided with the visit to Washington by Israel's Prime Minister Benajmin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC over the war in Gaza.

READ: White House sanctions on the International Criminal Court

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioned if the Philippines is included in the list of “major and nonmajor allies” of the US as defined in the Trump EO. “Parang hindi naman tayo included sa list,” she said.

The EO defines the term “ally of the United States” as:

1. a government of a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; or
2. a government of a “major non-NATO ally,” as that term is defined by section 2013(7) of the American Servicemembers’ Protection Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 7432(7));

 In the interview, Castro also criticized Senator Marcos for accusing Malacanang of engaging in a cover-up in the Interpol arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte last month.

She said Cabinet members already spent 6 hours answering Marcos’ questions during the first hearing of her committee.

“So anong cover-up dun? Hindi naman pwedeng ibibigay sa kanila o isapubliko ‘yung mga covered ng executive privilege…Sana maintindihan nila ‘yun,” she said.

She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is not obligated to stop his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, from continuing the investigation. Instead, the President is obligated to reveal to the public all relevant information regarding Duterte’s arrest.

“Nasa kamay na ni Senator Imee kung hanggang saan siya at kung kailan siya titigil,” she said.

Duterte was arrested in Manila last March 11 following the issuance of an ICC warrant for the crimes against humanity of murder.

The ICC only mentioned about 43 alleged EJK cases, though right groups said there were around 30,000 killings recorded. Police said 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations under President Duterte.