Duterte to prepare his defence against ICC probe
MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will prepare his defence against an International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into his deadly drug war, after previously insisting he would not cooperate.
ICC judges authorised in September a full-blown investigation into Mr Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign, which rights groups estimate has killed tens of thousands of people, saying it resembled an illegitimate and systematic attack on civilians.
“I will prepare for my defence in the ICC,” Mr Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech released on Monday, in his first public comments on the probe.
“Just stick to the facts because there are records of it. I am not threatening you — just don’t cheat me on the evidence,” he said in the speech, which came two days after he declared he would retire from politics.
Mr Duterte has attacked the world’s only permanent war crimes court and insisted it has no jurisdiction in the Philippines.
The authoritarian firebrand pulled Manila out of the ICC after it launched a preliminary probe, but the Haguebased court says it has jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.
Mr Duterte has repeatedly said there is no official campaign to illegally kill addicts and dealers, but his speeches have included incitements to violence.
He said during Monday’s speech that he would protect officers carrying out the war on drugs “as long as you obey the law”.