Julia Christine Botin

Malacañang: No change in Philippines' position on ICC drug war probe

A picture taken on November 23, 2015 shows the new building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARTIJN BEEKMAN +++ NETHERLANDS OUT / AFP PHOTO / ANP / Martijn Beekman

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173770346902320180905-international-criminal-court-afp-1.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A picture taken on Nov. 23, 2015 shows the new building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands. <em>Martijn Beekman, ANP/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Friday said that the Philippines is not changing its position on the International Criminal Court’s ongoing probe into the Duterte administration’s violent campaign against drugs.</p><p>Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in a briefing reiterated the government’s position that while the Philippines has already withdrawn from the ICC, they cannot ignore any request made by the international tribunal that will be coursed through Interpol, of which the Philippines is still a member.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/13/duterte-tells-icc-to-hurry-up-with-probe-baka-mamatay-na-ako-1235">Duterte tells ICC to &#x27;hurry up&#x27; with probe: &#x27;Baka mamatay na ako&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;We have withdrawn from the ICC, membership from the ICC and that withdrawal is now already in effect,&quot;  Bersamin told reporters.</p><p>&quot;Pero, we have been very clear in our statements regarding this, if the ICC makes a move, and courses the move through the Interpol and the Interpol makes the request to us for the arrest or delivery of the custody of a person subject to ICC jurisdiction, we will respond, favorably or positively to the Interpol request, kasi nagbe-benefit din tayo sa Interpol in other cases,” he also said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/2/icc-launches-portal-for-witnesses-on-duterte-s-war-on-drugs-1323">ICC launches witness appeal on Duterte&#x27;s war on drugs<br/></a></div><p>The statement comes amid reports that the Philippines has signaled a softened stance towards the ICC’s probe, with Justice Secretary Boying Remulla saying that there are certain areas where the ICC and the Philippines can cooperate.</p><p>Bersamin said he does not know what Remulla was referring to but said that “as far as experience has given to the government shows, [requests of] Interpol should always be respected, because the Interpol is also doing us service in other areas, similar to this.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7u6TWoCjsIE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The statement comes amid reports that the Philippines has signaled a softened stance towards the ICC’s probe, with Justice Secretary Boying Remulla saying that there are certain areas where the ICC and the Philippines can cooperate.</p>

The statement comes amid reports that the Philippines has signaled a softened stance towards the ICC’s probe, with Justice Secretary Boying Remulla saying that there are certain areas where the ICC and the Philippines can cooperate.