Philippines Marcos' says will not block ICC

14/11/2024 12:44

        Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday his government would not block the International Criminal Court (ICC) if former leader Rodrigo Duterte wants to be investigated for alleged crimes against humanity in his anti-drugs crackdown.
        
        The Philippines will not cooperate with the ICC but it has obligations with Interpol, Marcos told reporters.
        
        "If that's the wish of (Duterte), we will not block ICC. We will not just cooperate," Marcos said. "But if he agrees to be investigated, it is up to him."
        
        The remarks follow a marathon congressional hearing on Wednesday during which Duterte, president from 2016-2022, refused to apologise for his role in the bloodshed and urged the ICC to start its investigation
        
        All testimony provided by Duterte will be assessed to see their legal consequences, Marcos said.
        
        Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippine as a member of the ICC in 2019 after it announced it had started a preliminary examination into thousands of killings in his anti-narcotics campaign. He questioned its authority to conduct an investigation.