Trump signs order shielding Duterte from ICC

A U.S. executive order signed by President Donald Trump aims to shield former President Rodrigo Duterte from potential actions by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The order, effective Sunday, seeks to impose U.S. sanctions on ICC officials and potentially Filipino individuals involved in Duterte's alleged "kidnapping and detention" or "Operation Hot Pursuit."

Benito Ranque, convenor of the Return Duterte Movement, welcomed the order, stating that assets of those involved could be frozen and they could face travel bans to the U.S.

Ranque noted that the executive order accuses the ICC of taking "illegitimate" or "abused" actions against the U.S. and its allies, citing Israel as a primary example.

The U.S. Department of Justice invoked constitutional and statutory authorities, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to issue the executive order.