#Philippine #President #intention #rejoin #ICC
The Philippines has no plans to rejoin the International Criminal Court, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday, and the tribunal’s prosecutor is trying to reopen an investigation into the ex-president’s deadly drug war.
Rodrigo Duterte, who resigned on June 30, pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2019 after it opened a preliminary investigation into its drug crackdown that killed many thousands of people.
ICC judges last September approved a full probe into the anti-drug campaign, saying it resembled an illegitimate and systematic attack on civilians.
It suspended the investigation two months later after Manila said it would investigate the alleged crimes itself.
But ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in June that Manila’s request to delay the investigation was unjustified and that it should be resumed “as soon as possible.”
Marcos Jr., who supported Duterte’s drug war, has previously indicated he would not cooperate with the ICC.
On Monday he went even further.
“The Philippines has no intention of rejoining the ICC,” Marcos Jr. told reporters.
Marcos Jr. was elected president by a landslide in May with the help of an alliance with Duterte’s daughter Sara, who won the vice presidential race.
During his presidency, Duterte refused to cooperate with the court, claiming it lacked jurisdiction — a claim dismissed by the Philippines’ Supreme Court.
Under pressure from the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, the government has investigated several hundred cases of drug-related killings.
In a few cases, charges were brought. Only three police officers have been convicted of killing a drug suspect.
The ICC has invited the Philippines to “offer observations” on Khan’s request for a retrial, the President’s Communications Office said.
Manila has until September 8th to respond.
Marcos Jr. said Monday that a recent meeting with his legal team, which includes Duterte’s former spokesman Harry Roque, was to discuss whether the government would respond.
“What we’re saying is we have an investigation here and it’s ongoing, so why do we have to have that?” Marcos Jr said on the sidelines of an event to promote boosters of Covid-19 vaccines.
“It’s also possible that we don’t even bother[to answer]because we’re not under them.”
Even if the ICC collects enough evidence to start a case against Duterte, its rules prevent him from being tried in absentia.
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