Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Thursday that his administration would not prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign. While emphasizing that the government would not cooperate with the ICC, Marcos highlighted existing obligations with Interpol.
“If that’s the wish of [Duterte], we will not block ICC. We will not just cooperate,” Marcos said. He added, “But if he agrees to be investigated, it is up to him.”
The statement followed a lengthy congressional hearing where Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, maintained that he would not apologize for the bloodshed and even encouraged the ICC to proceed with its investigation. Marcos noted that any testimony from Duterte would be reviewed for potential legal implications.
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from ICC membership in 2019 after the court initiated a preliminary examination into the deaths associated with his war on drugs. He disputed the ICC’s authority to investigate the situation.
During Duterte’s administration, police reported 6,200 suspects killed for allegedly resisting arrest during drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, argue that the actual number of victims is significantly higher, including many drug users and dealers killed under mysterious circumstances. Authorities previously attributed these to vigilante actions and internal conflicts among drug syndicates. Rights groups and certain victims have accused the police of orchestrating extrajudicial killings and cover-ups, allegations that law enforcement officials have consistently denied.
