Palace unfazed by ICC report showing victims support drug war probe

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the Philippines is not under obligation to cooperate with the ICC.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang remains unperturbed by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Registry report showing victims “overwhelmingly support” an investigation into the alleged crimes committed in the war against illegal drugs during President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership.

In a statement on Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque insisted that the Philippines is not obligated to cooperate with the ICC.

“To reiterate, the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute gives us no obligation to cooperate with the ICC, including the opening of its preliminary examination,” Roque said.

“This however does not mean that the alleged victims cannot seek redress. The full gamut of the legal remedies under our domestic laws is and always will be available to them,” he added.

Roque noted that the victims’ support of a probe into Duterte’s drug war is just an opinion “rather than erosion of support of the Filipino people.”

READ: ICC report shows victims ‘overwhelmingly support’ probe into Duterte’s drug war 

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whose domestic policy the ICC is questioning, is a democratically-elected President who commands an overwhelming support of the people,” said Roque.

Roque said results of an independent local survey, which he did not specify, show 88% of Filipinos support the President’s war on drugs.

“It is just unfortunate that the Office of the Prosecutor has been used by his ardent critics and detractors as a political tool,” he added.

Earlier, the ICC requested for judicial authorization to investigate the crimes against humanity case filed against Duterte over his war against illegal drugs.

READ: ICC prosecutor asks for judicial authority to probe case filed vs Duterte

Malacañang and Duterte have repeatedly refused to cooperate with the ICC probe.

READ: Palace: Duterte will never cooperate with ICC probe

The ICC launched an investigation into Duterte’s alleged human rights abuses in February 2018, following his bloody campaign against drugs.

Duterte announced a month later that the Philippines would withdraw from the ICC. Nevertheless, the ICC said it would assess the complaints against Duterte since it still has jurisdiction over the cases filed before the country withdrew.