HEADLINES
BBM vows non-cooperation in ICC probe of Duterte’s bloody drug war
1/23/24, 12:20 PM
Probers of the International Criminal Court must expect no cooperation from the government in their investigation of former President Rodrigo Duterte Jr. role in the killing of some 12,000 persons suspected of involvement in illegal drug trade during his presidency.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made this clear as he vowed to instruct government agencies not to be part of any ICC probe.
“I do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC in the Philippines; I consider this as a threat to our sovereignty. Therefore, the Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts,” Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview on Tuesday (January 23).
However, Marcos said barring the entry of ICC probers may no longer be pursued by government saying that investigators may come to the country as “ordinary people” and visitors.
Earlier, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV disclosed that ICC probers have already succeeded in gathering evidence to pin down Duterte on crimes against humanity charges.
According to Trillanes, the evidence was collected when the investigators visited the country last December.
He said the ICC is expected to release warrants of arrest against Duterte and others involved in the drug war murders “very, very soon.”
However, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said Philippines will not allow itself to be used in enforcing an arrest warrant against the former chief executive.
` Guevarra considers the ICC as a threat to national security.
“The Philippine government will therefore not lend any assistance to the ICC investigation, much less the enforcement in Philippine territory of any processes issued by the ICC,” said Guevarra when asked to react to Trillanes’ statements.