President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated that the Philippines is considering whether to return to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes after lawmakers filed resolutions urging the government to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
However, he maintains that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the killings related to the country’s drug war.
Marcos emphasizes that the Philippines has its own law enforcement agencies, such as the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Justice, which are capable of carrying out their duties.
The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in March 2019, a year after a case was filed against then-President Rodrigo Duterte for his administration’s drug war.
In January, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber authorized the resumption of the investigation into the controversial drug war in the Philippines. However, Marcos has previously stated that the Philippines has no intention of rejoining the international court.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will seek the executive branch’s position on the resolutions filed in the House of Representatives.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 24, 2023
