The Philippine government will heed arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte if routed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Malacañang clarified on Friday.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that any formal request from Interpol, acting on behalf of the ICC, would receive a positive response from the Philippines. Speaking during a media conference, Bersamin emphasized the importance of the country’s relationship with Interpol.
“We will respond favorably to an Interpol request for the arrest or custody of a person under ICC jurisdiction because we also benefit from Interpol in other cases,” Bersamin explained, citing the agency’s role in apprehending criminals globally.
He underscored that “comity” between nations and institutions like Interpol remains critical. “If we ignore their requests now, they might ignore ours in the future,” he added.
Despite this stance, Bersamin reiterated that the Philippine government does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, maintaining its position since withdrawing from the Rome Statute in 2018, a move that took effect in 2019 during Duterte’s administration.
The remarks follow statements by Justice Secretary Boying Remulla, who acknowledged limited areas where the Philippines could cooperate with the ICC.
The ICC is investigating Duterte, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and other officials for alleged crimes against humanity tied to the anti-drug campaign, which reportedly claimed the lives of up to 30,000 individuals, including children. Allegations of a reward system for police killings during Duterte’s term have also surfaced, but the former president has denied such claims.
