PH withdrawing from ICC? Not an option, says Duterte

President Duterte said over the weekend that withdrawing the Philippines’ membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) is out of the question. Despite having raised the possibility of leaving the ICC earlier, the President said it is now impossible for the Philippines to do so as it would appear that he is trying to avoid

liability.

His latest pronouncement was made after the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) announced that it will launch a preliminary examination into supposed killings brought about by his administration’s war on illegal drugs.

“Well, I do not want to appear na (that) I’m trying to avoid liability. Eh kung ganun ang style nila (If that is their style, then),” Duterte told reporters in Davao City.

In 2016, Duterte announced that he was thinking of withdrawing the Philippine membership from the ICC, claiming that the legal body only picks on small countries.

He made the announcement a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree removing his country from the ICC.

The OTP is launching a preliminary examination on the allegations against the President brought by lawyer Jude Sabio before the ICC, with self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato as witness in killings in Davao City allegedly carried out by the Davao Death Squad on orders of Duterte.

But Duterte remains unfazed, and instead, welcomed the preliminary examination as an opportunity for him to finally defend himself from the accusations hurled against him.

He, however, said he wants a chance to cross examine ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

“Even if she [Bensouda] has filed a case, I will ask her to take the witness stand. I will go there to hear my case. Ilagay ko siya diyan (I will place her there),” Duterte said.

Duterte also again expressed that he is being singled out as he claims that there are many other pressing matters happening around the world.