Duterte says he’s ‘very glad to go’ if ICC decides to ‘hang’ him

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he would be “very glad to go” should the International Criminal Court (ICC) decide to sentence him to death after his term over alleged crimes against humanity.

“For the things I have said, ordered and done, I am willing to put my neck dito sa mga bagay na ito (here). Baka balang araw itong mga ICC na ito, itong mga bugok na ito (Maybe someday, this ICC…), if they decide to hang me I would be very glad to go,” Duterte said during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Isabela province.

Duterte made the remark just days before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute takes effect.

The ICC has launched a “preliminary examination” of the accusations against Duterte on crimes against humanity in February 2018 following a review of a number of communications and reports documenting the alleged crimes.

After a month, Duterte announced the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The country’s pullout will take effect on March 17.

READ: Duterte does the inevitable, declares PH withdrawal from ICC

The President argued that the ICC never acquired jurisdiction over the Philippines.

In the same speech, Duterte defended his controversial drug war, which has been widely criticized by local and international human rights groups for allegedly committing crimes against humanity.

“Kung hindi ko ginawa ito, ang shabu, manood ka ng TV ngayon (If I didn’t do this…shabu…watch TV) review what was yesterday’s (news) and review it everyday until you reach next year. Araw-araw yan, droga pati violence (Everyday, it’s drugs and violence),” he said.

The ICC is a permanent court that investigates, prosecutes, and tries those accused of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. /ee

READ: Philippines nearing official withdrawal from Int’l Criminal Court