14-11-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine government has made an unprecedented shift in its stance towards the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating it would not impede former President Rodrigo Duterte’s potential surrender to face allegations linked to his controversial anti-narcotics campaign.
In a dramatic parliamentary hearing that stretched over ten hours, Duterte mounted a defiant defence of his notorious “war on drugs” whilst simultaneously goading the ICC to expedite their investigation. “The ICC doesn’t scare me at all,” the former president declared, “They can come here any time.”
The Marcos administration responded with a groundbreaking statement, indicating their willingness to cooperate with international law enforcement should an Interpol Red Notice be issued. This marks a significant departure from Philippines’ previous position, established when Duterte withdrew the nation from the ICC’s jurisdiction in March 2019.
Official police records indicate that over 6,200 individuals lost their lives during the anti-drug operations. However, human rights organisations contend that the actual death toll is substantially higher, citing thousands of additional killings by unidentified assailants.
During the emotionally charged hearing, where victims’ families were present, Duterte remained unrepentant about his controversial campaign. “I have nothing to hide. Everything I did was for my country and for the young people. No excuses. No apologies,” he stated firmly. rights advocates have long accused authorities of conducting extrajudicial executions of unarmed suspects, allegations which law enforcement officials have consistently denied, maintaining that lethal force was only employed in self-defence situations.
In a particularly pointed comment, the 78-year-old former president challenged the ICC to accelerate their process, noting his advancing age: “I am old and I may die soon. You may miss the pleasure of seeing me standing in front of the court to hear the verdict.”
