President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said the country is ready to “defend” itself if the International Criminal Court (ICC) would resume its investigation into alleged illegal drug-related deaths during the administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Marcos made the pronouncement on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) in Zamboanga Peninsula.
“We continue to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines and continue to question the jurisdiction of the ICC in their investigations here in the Philippines,” Marcos said.
Last Tuesday, the ICC appeals chamber approved the resumption of the investigation on the drug war campaign, which allegedly resulted in the death of at least 6,000 people.
Marcos, however, maintained the ICC no longer has any jurisdiction in the Philippines after the country left its jurisdiction in 2019.
He said the ICC probe is interference to country’s judicial system.
“They [ICC prosecutors] are talking about Filipinos. Their alleged crimes are here in the Philippines; the victims are Filipino; why should it brought to The Hague? It [the investigation] should be done here,” the President said partly in Filipino.
The Chief Executive reiterated his statement last March that the country has disengaged with the ICC.
“All our dealing with the ICC is over. Just like what we have said from the start, we will not cooperate with them in any war or form,” Marcos said.
Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said the government is already conducting its own investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the anti-drug campaign.
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez