MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) should stop its investigation on the alleged human right violations by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
According to Roque, the country does not recognize ICC’s jurisdiction and resuming its investigation will be a “waste of time and resources.”
In December last year, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor found “reasonable basis” to believe that the alleged crimes against humanity were committed under Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Nanawagan kami sa ICC na huwag nang magsayang ng panahon sa kanilang mga imbestigasyon dahil hindi kinikilala ng Pilipinas ang hurisdiksyon ng ICC,” Roque said on Thursday.
“Patunay rin ito na gumagana ang ating mga prosesong legal kaya tama lamang na tigilan na ang pakikialam ng ICC sa ating domestic affairs,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously dismissed the consolidated petitions questioning Duterte’s decision to pull out from the ICC for being moot and academic.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa naging desisyon ng Korte Supreme na ibasura ang petisyon na nagkuwestiyon sa naging aksyon ng Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte na mag unilaterally withdraw sa International Criminal Court,” said Roque.
The Philippines was officially out of ICC on March 17, 2019, or exactly a year after the President revoked the Rome Statute. He decided to cut ties with the ICC following its threat to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country./PN
