President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made a clear statement that the Philippines will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in serving an arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The ICC’s Involvement
Ongoing Investigation The ICC has been investigating allegations of human rights abuses during Duterte’s presidency, particularly in connection with the war on drugs. Despite rumors and misinformation, no arrest warrant has been issued against Duterte by the ICC as of now.
The Philippines’ Withdrawal from the ICC
The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019, and the current administration upholds that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country or its former president.
The Marcos Administration’s Position
President Marcos Jr. has emphasized the country’s sovereignty, stating that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, especially since the nation withdrew from the court in 2019.
The administration argues that the ICC’s mandate is to intervene only when national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute, which is not the case in the Philippines.
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Political Dynamics
This decision could have significant implications for the Philippines’ international relations, particularly with countries and organizations that support the ICC’s role in global justice.
The Philippines’ refusal to serve an ICC arrest warrant for Duterte represents a firm stand on national integrity and the primacy of domestic legal systems. It remains to be seen how this will affect the country’s international standing and internal politics in the long run.
