Former President Rodrigo Duterte called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite its investigation into his controversial war on drugs, which is under scrutiny for alleged crimes against humanity. Speaking at a House quad committee inquiry on Wednesday, Duterte, who had previously declined invitations to attend, stated, “I am asking the ICC to hurry up and if possible, they can come here and start the investigation tomorrow.” He expressed frustration that the issue had been unresolved for so long, adding, “Baka mamatay na ako, hindi na nila ako ma-imbestiga.” (I might die before they can investigate me).
Duterte, 79, reiterated his willingness to face the ICC, saying that if he were found guilty, he would accept prison time. “If I am found guilty I will go to prison and rot there for all time,” he stated. When asked about cooperating with the tribunal, he emphasized that the ICC did not intimidate him, asserting, “The ICC does not scare me a bit. They can come here anytime… I did it for my country and for the young people, no excuses, no apology.”
In a related statement, the Palace said the government would not oppose Duterte’s desire to submit to the ICC jurisdiction if he chose to do so. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that the Philippines would be compelled to cooperate if Interpol issued a Red Notice for Duterte, which would call for his provisional arrest pending possible extradition.
The ICC is currently investigating Duterte’s drug war and alleged links to the Davao Death Squad, with a potential arrest warrant on the horizon before the year’s end. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the Marcos administration has indicated it will not block the ICC’s investigative actions, including interviews with key witnesses.
