The Philippines says it is forced to comply if Interpol wants to arrest Duterte for drugs

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, A reporter

THE Philippine government on Wednesday said it will not stand in the way if former President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants to surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and will be forced to comply if his arrest is sought for his deadly drug war.

Office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued this statement hours after the tough-talking leader told the House of Representatives that he was not afraid of the ICC, and told it to “hurry up” its investigation into the charges against his administration. against humanity.

It said it would be willing to consider giving Mr. Duterte if an Interpol request is made.

“The government will feel compelled to consider the red notice as a request that must be honored, in which local law enforcement agencies will be obliged to fully comply,” said Chief Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin in a statement.

It was the first time the Philippine government suggested that it would cooperate with the ICC, last year it opened the way for an investigation into the bloody campaign that defined the position of Mr. Duterte’s 2016-2022.

Mr. Duterte when the president withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in March 2019 after opening the first investigation into the drug killings. The court said its prosecutors have jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal.

In a statement, Mr. Bersamin said that the government will not oppose or prevent Mr. Duterte if he wishes to surrender.

Mr. Duterte remains defiant during the trial as he defends his illegal drug bust, which was the centerpiece of his election campaign, during which he promised thousands would be killed.

He had promised to kill 100,000 criminals in his first six months in office and throw their corpses into Manila Bay so that the fish there would “grow fat.”

“The ICC does not scare me at all,” he told congressmen. “They can come here anytime. I think you would like to make it easier for them to visit and start an investigation. I can accept that,” said Mr. Duterte.

“I have nothing to hide. What I did, I did for my country and the youth. There are no excuses. There is no apology. If I’m going to hell, so be it.”

The 79-year-old man said he was getting impatient, and asked the ICC to “hurry up” and “come here and start the investigation tomorrow.” “I will go to the ICC myself, they take a long time. Hurry up! Because I might get old and die before they investigate me.”

According to police data, more than 6,200 people died in campaigns against drug use under Mr. Human rights organizations say that around 30,000 drug suspects have died.

“I take full responsibility for whatever happens in the actions taken by the law enforcement authorities of this country … to stop the huge drug problem affecting our people,” said Mr. Duterte.

The former President’s comments on the ICC were a high-level political move, said Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a professor at De La Salle-College’s School of Business and Governance in St. Benilde. “It is surprising but understandable given the circumstances he is currently facing. The 2025 mid-term elections are just around the corner,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Mr. Duterte reverts to his usual bravado rhetoric. All this is to make him appear fearless to his remaining base of support,” said Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches politics at Ateneo de Manila University, in an interview with Messenger. “It’s the only way he and his family can remain loyal to his support.”

“Mr. Duterte’s change in the ICC investigation will definitely be a call to action for the Philippine government – that public opinion will now focus on whether the Philippines will once again be part of the Rome Statute,” said Mr. Cortez. – with Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza again Reuters