Former President Rodrigo Duterte has thrown down a challenge to the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the proposed extrajudicial killings connected to his bloody "war" against narcotics. Although it seemed that Duterte's statements represented a departure compared to previous statements about the ICC not having jurisdiction over Filipinos, this came at a moment when the Marcos administration is supporting a policy against cooperation with this organ of justice.
At the hearing of the Senate committee, representatives of the Palace on the issue of extrajudicial killings on November 13 posed the question to Duterte if he was ready to cooperate with the ICC's investigation. "I am asking the ICC to dismiss it... This question has remained unresolved for many years," the former president replied. "A long time ago, it is possible that I will die, and I may not be able to investigate," he added. "If I am found guilty, I will go to jail and will suffer there until the end of my life."
When he was president, Duterte withdrew the country from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, and pledged not to cooperate with any investigations regarding drug-related issues, except for those that were handled in local courts. The ICC is investigating proposed crimes against humanity in the context of the bloody campaign against narcotics, as a result of which about 30,000 people died according to various human rights organizations. Duterte, in conclusion, participated in the 11th hearing of the committee.
