Why did the Philippines shift stance on ICC cooperation?

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The Philippines Shifted Stance on ICC Cooperation Due to an Interpol Arrest Warrant Request

The Philippine government's approach to the International Criminal Court (ICC) shifted from steadfast refusal to a stated obligation to act following the reception of an arrest warrant via Interpol. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla indicated that the government had maintained an "arm's length" distance from the ICC, asserting no official or unofficial communication occurred until the warrant was received. This change in posture suggests a procedural trigger, where an Interpol request necessitates government action, overriding previous jurisdictional objections.
Obligation Triggered by Interpol Request

Philippine officials, including Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, have stated that their government's policy changed to one of obligation upon receiving a request from Interpol. Until this point, the administration had consistently refused to cooperate with ICC investigators, citing the country's withdrawal from the international body in 2019, which they argued negated the ICC's jurisdiction. The reception of an arrest warrant through Interpol, however, appears to have altered this stance, leading to the apprehension of former president Rodrigo Duterte on March 11.
Contested Coordination of Arrest

Despite the government's assertion of no prior communication with the ICC, language within the Interpol diffusion—a less formal version of a red notice—suggested prior consultations and agreement to comply with the arrest request. Senator Imee Marcos highlighted a notice dated March 10 that stated the diffusion was transmitted "after prior consultations with the government of the Philippines, who have agreed to comply with this request for arrest." Secretary Remulla, however, dismissed this wording as a "form letter," implying it did not represent explicit coordination with his office or a direct agreement to the specific Duterte arrest.
Political Motivations and Family Feud

The arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC in The Hague have been framed by some as politically motivated, particularly amidst a significant falling out between the Duterte and Marcos families. Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the detained ex-leader, suggested that her father's arrest was an attempt by the incumbent administration to dismantle opposition. She implied that the administration feared the opposition's influence, especially with upcoming mid-term elections, and was using government resources and the ICC to achieve political objectives. This political backdrop includes recent impeachment charges against the Vice President, intensifying the public warfare between the two prominent political clans.

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Why did the Philippines shift stance on ICC cooperation?

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