Rody on ICC probe: Not in a million years

President Duterte will not allow himself to be investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is now conducting a preliminary examination on his controversial war on illegal drugs.

“You cannot acquire jurisdiction over me. Not in a million years. That’s why I do not answer them. That’s true,” Duterte said during the oathtaking yesterday of officials of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission at Malacañang.

“I did not want to tell it. That has always been my weapon ever since. S***, do not believe them. They cannot ever, ever hope to acquire jurisdiction over my person. ’Di nga ako maniwala sa nanay ko sa kanila pa (I do not believe in my mother, how much more in them?) Son of a b **** . You are such a pest,” he added.

Last month, the ICC notified Malacañang about its “preliminary examination” on the deaths tied to Duterte’s crackdown on narcotics, which has left more than 3,000 people dead since its launch in 2016.

The ICC’s move followed its receipt of a communication from Jude Sabio, lawyer of Edgar Matobato, who had claimed to be a former member of a Davao death squad with alleged ties to Duterte.

Sabio claimed Duterte was behind the killing of about 1,400 people in Davao City and 7,000 drug suspects nationwide.

The opposition hailed the preliminary examination, saying it could lead to the filing of charges against officials behind the drug war.

Malacañang, however, downplayed the development and maintained that the anti-narcotics crackdown is a legitimate police operation that seeks to protect Filipinos.

Duterte reiterated that his campaign against illegal drugs would continue until the end of his term.

“Whether the human rights investigators believe it or not, it is not my business to do their bidding. I have a duty to perform and worse, I made it a solemn promise,” Duterte said during the Go Negosyo 10th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit in Pasay City.

“So, the war on drugs will continue with or without ICC, with or without the human rights (investigators), with or without the politicians. It will last until the last day of my term as president. After that, I do not care anymore,” he added.

Duterte previously said there were four million drug users in the country but the claim was contradicted by data from the Dangerous Drugs Board, which pegged the number of drug dependents at 1.8 million.