Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra
SOLICITOR General Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has the authority to issue arrest warrants for individuals facing charges but still needs the cooperation of the Philippine government for the enforcement of such warrants within the country.
This, after Guevarra addressed inquiries about the possibility of an ICC warrant for former president Rodrigo Duterte and other officials in connection with the previous administration’s war on drugs.
Former police officer Arturo Lascañas recently revealed that “Oplan Tokhang” originated from then-Davao City mayor and current Vice President Sara Duterte.
Guevarra affirmed the government’s steadfast position against the ICC investigation, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the tribunal in 2019 as the basis for non-cooperation.
“The republic’s legal position has not changed. It is not affected by the winds of politics,” he said.
The government still considers itself exempt from cooperating with the ICC due to the withdrawal’s effective date in 2019.
