MANILA – Former President Rodrigo Duterte dared the International Criminal Court (ICC) to come to the Philippines as soon as possible to start their investigation on his administration’s war on drugs.
The former Chief Executive made the statement during his appearance at the House of Representatives’ quad comm probe on drug war killings during his administration.
“I am asking the ICC to hurry up and, if possible, come here and start the investigation tomorrow,” Duterte said while being asked by Gabriela Partylist representative Arlene Brosas.
“This issue has been left hanging for so many years. Baka mamatay na ako, hindi na nila ako ma-imbestigahan. [That’s] why I am asking the ICC, through you, na magpunta na sila rito,” he added.
Duterte further said that he will be facing the consequences of such an ICC probe.
“If I am found guilty, I will go to prison and rot there for all time,” Duterte said.
The ICC in The Hague is currently investigating Duterte’s war on drugs and the alleged Davao Death Squad for possible crimes against humanity.
The government has taken the position that it will not cooperate with the ICC, which the Philippines left in 2019 because of its preliminary inquiry into the drug war.
But the Marcos Jr. administration also said that it would not prevent the ICC from getting statements and information and setting interviews with potential resource persons.
War on drugs deaths during the Duterte administration reportedly reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths reached as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings./PN
