Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte denounced the International Criminal Court's decision to reject the Philippine government's request to cease an investigation into his lethal "war on drugs."
Duterte emphasized, through his former spokesperson, that only local courts can consider cases involving crimes committed in the country.
According to Harry Roque, the former president "shrugged off" the ICC judges' ruling, paving the way for the investigation into suspected crimes against humanity to resume.
The ICC is a "court of last resort," stepping in and exercising jurisdiction only when governments are unwilling or unable to prosecute perpetrators.
The court's Pre-Trial Chamber had previously stated in January that the government's initiative to reassess "drug war" fatalities did "not amount to tangible, concrete, and progressive investigative steps.
Duterte's previous police commander, now Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, has also stated that he is "unbothered" by the decision.
The chief implementer of the "drug war" has stated that he has not prepared plans for his legal defense if called by The Hague-based tribunal.
A five-judge panel disregarded the Philippine government's contention that the ICC lacked jurisdiction because the country left the court in 2019, three years before the case was reopened.
The judges upheld the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber's decision on January 26 to approve Prosecutor Karim Khan's plea to reopen the probe into "drug war" killings.
Khan will continue to collect evidence and may seek the issuance of arrest warrants or summonses if he believes there are adequate grounds to do so.
On the eve of the ICC ruling, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that if a warrant is issued by the court, the country will not carry it out.
According to government records, at least 6,252 people have been killed in anti-drug operations. However, rights groups claim that up to 30,000 people may have been slain, with some of them being innocent victims.
The judges upheld the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber's decision on January 26 to approve Prosecutor Karim Khan's plea to reopen the probe into "drug war" killings.
Khan will continue to collect evidence and may seek the issuance of arrest warrants or summonses if he believes there are adequate grounds to do so.
On the eve of the ICC ruling, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that if a warrant is issued by the court, the country will not carry it out.
According to government records, at least 6,252 people have been killed in anti-drug operations.
However, rights groups claim that up to 30,000 people may have been slain, with some of them being innocent victims.
