US sanctions on ICC didn’t impression Philippine probe – deputy prosecutor

Now unable to make use of his private bank cards, Niang says the crew stays ‘unabated’ in digging up extra within the Philippines

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The sanctions imposed by the US on officers of the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) didn’t impression the investigation within the Philippines, mentioned deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang who is without doubt one of the people on the sanctions record.

“Fortunately, I can say no,” Niang advised Rappler in a one-on-one interview proper after the pre-trial hearings of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte completed on Friday, February 27.

“Initially, we had thought that the impact could be there. As a result of the manager order of the president of the US made it very clear that due to investigation affecting the US or its ally or its associates, and naturally, Philippines is one among them. So we may have thought that this might have an effect on that. However we’ve been capable of keep it up with our investigation and our prosecution as nicely up to now,” mentioned Niang.

The Donald Trump authorities imposed sanctions on a complete of six judges of the ICC, and the three heads of the Workplace of the Prosecutor – chief prosecutor Karim Khan (on depart), Niang, and his fellow deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. The sanctions had been a consequence to ICC’s arrest warrants towards Israeli officers. Trump, throughout his earlier time period, additionally sanctioned former ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda over her investigation into the Individuals’ accountability in Afghanistan.

Investigation continues

Niang additionally confirmed to Rappler that their investigation into the Philippines will proceed, and all choices stay open, together with probably including extra co-perpetrators.

“We don’t rule out assembly extra witnesses, significantly a few of those that have been like insider who’ve been state official concerned within the crimes, who may be now keen to speak in a sure manner, however in fact we wouldn’t say no to that,” mentioned Niang.

Niang declined to remark if they’re in search of any arrest warrant on any of the eight named co-perpetrators, together with Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

Nonetheless, underneath ICC’s latest guidelines, Niang mentioned they at all times maintain their request for warrants secret, in any case.

“I’m not speaking right here particularly in regards to the Philippine case, however usually and much more now, now we even have that requirement in our regulatory framework to file them secretly,” mentioned Niang.

“And if we need to go public for no matter causes, we ask permission to the judges to go public, however we’re not at liberty even to go public initially as we used to, however even on the time it could be very uncommon to go public,” mentioned Niang.

The explanations for holding the request a secret “could also be linked to witness safety,” but in addition to forestall suspects to “go into the hiding.”

Impact on private life

Niang mentioned that because the sanctions, he can not make any monetary transaction that includes the US greenback, and it has made it difficult to ship cash to his youngsters who reside overseas.

“Your capacity to switch fund together with to your children after they reside overseas like mine, it turns into troublesome you already know, seeing all of your bank card canceled together with in your personal nation as a result of they’re Visa or Mastercard, and so they have a US nexus,” mentioned Niang.

Niang mentioned the sanctions have additionally affected some a part of his and his spouse’s work, within the sense that they may no go longer to high-level conferences within the US.

“We’ve to current a report back to the [United Nations] Safety Council. I not try this. You already know, and it extends to your loved ones. I’ve a spouse who works for the World Financial institution, so their headquarters is in Washington. So, the sanctions contact all your loved ones, and naturally, they can not go,” mentioned Niang.

Niang mentioned that whereas the sanctions “include numerous inconvenience, as a prosecutor you should be ready for that.”

“Justice indisposes many individuals, together with highly effective individuals. And when they’re indisposed, typically they’ll do issues which will inconvenience your life. In order a prosecutor, you could at all times be ready for that and so sure, we stay unabated,” mentioned Niang.

Trump’s government order on the sanctions was issued final February 2025, and its language was broad that advocates worry it may have sweeping impacts throughout the work of the courtroom. The order mentioned: “The US unequivocally opposes and expects our allies to oppose any ICC actions towards the US, Israel, or some other ally of the US that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”

The wording of the order appears to cowl the Philippines, each as an ally of the US and a rustic that’s at the moment not underneath the jurisdiction of the ICC. The ICC proceeded to Duterte’s pre-trial, after chambers dominated that it preserved jurisdiction over the crimes which had been allegedly dedicated in the course of the interval that the Philippines was a member of the ICC.

Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines in 2018, proper after former chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened preliminary examination. The withdrawal took impact in 2019, following the ICC’s mandated one-year wait interval, which is why solely crimes that occurred from 2011 to 2019 are included within the fees. – Rappler.com