Philippines' stance vs ICC probe remains unchanged -- Sec Remulla
President Marcos' stance against the probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the past illegal drugs operations will remain unchanged despite his apparent rift with then President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Monday, Feb.26: "It's a policy that will not be changed just like that. We owe it to our people to be forthcoming about everything that we do and what we say."
Lately, Duterte has been hurling verbal attacks against President Marcos, including accusation that the President is an illegal drugs user.
Despite this, Remulla asserted that the ICC cannot conduct any investigation in the country and the government cannot offer its cooperation because the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier claimed that the ICC may soon issue arrest warrants after having concluded its investigation against those accused of crimes against humanity. including Duterte.
The case pending before the ICC alleges that abuses including killings were committed during the war against illegal drugs under the administration of Duterte.
Amid claims that ICC investigators have been to the country, Remulla maintained that “they have not made contact with the DOJ.”
The Philippine withdrawal from the ICC took effect in 2019 after then President Duterte in 2018 ordered the country’s withdrawal as a party to the Rome Statute that created the international court.