Photo Courtesy: Focus on the Global South
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated on Tuesday that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines and his government will not cooperate in its investigation regarding the war on drugs of the previous administration.
The President made the remarks when asked to clarify reports saying ICC representatives are in the country and whether the government allowed them to enter the Philippines and also whether the government will cooperate with the probe.
“Let me say this for the 100th time. I do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC in the Philippines. I do not, I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty. The Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts,” President Marcos said during a media interview following an event in Quezon City.
“However, as ordinary people, they can come and visit the Philippines pero hindi kami tutulong sa kanila. In fact, binabantayan namin sila, making sure that hindi sila— that they do not come into contact with any agency of government,” he added.
And if the ICC is contacting agencies of government such as police personnel and local governments, Marcos said he directed not to cooperate with the representative of the international body.
“Huwag niyong sasagutin, ‘yun ang sagot natin. That we don’t recognize your jurisdiction, therefore, we will not assist in any way, shape or form, any of the investigations ICC is doing here in the Philippines,” the President said.
In January 2023, the ICC authorized reopening the inquiry after it was suspended in November 2021, and in July 2023 the ICC Appeals Chamber also denied the government’s appeal against the resumption of the inquiry.
In November last year, President Marcos said that returning into the fold of the international tribunal is “under study” although he recognized problems on jurisdiction issue.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte after the tribunal began a probe into his administration’s drug war.
