MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hurry up with its investigation on the drug war.
In the hearing by the House of Representatives’s quad committee on Duterte’s drug campaign under his administration, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas asked Duterte whether he was willing to cooperate with the ICC investigation.
SITTING WITH THE ENEMY Former president Rodrigo Duterte and former senator Leila de Lima find themselves seated beside each other on Nov. 13, 2024 during the resumption of an inquiry at the House of Representatives on the drug war launched by the ex-leader during his term. It was Duterte who jailed de Lima on drug charges but which were dismissed seven years after. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
“I’m asking the ICC to hurry up and, if possible, they can come here and start the investigation tomorrow. This issue has been left hanging for so many years. Matagal, Ma’am, baka mamatay na ako, hindi na nila ako maimbestiga (It is taking long, Ma’am, I might die already, they would not get to investigate me)”, Duterte, 79, said.
“And so I’m asking the ICC through you… And if I am found guilty, I will go to prison and rot there for all time”, he said.
Duterte, who took his oath before the committee, is among the resource persons.
He was with his lawyers Martin Delgra 3rd, Salvador Panelo, and Silvestre Bello 3rd.
The Philippines, effective 2019, withdrew from the ICC.
In January 2024, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had reiterated that he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines.
According to a January 2024 news release on the Presidential Communications Office’s website, Marcos had said that the government would not help any ICC investigation but that, “as ordinary people, they can come and visit” the country.
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