Duterte unfazed by human rights cases, ICC probe during ‘retirement’ —Panelo

President Rodrigo Duterte is not bothered by the possible human rights cases and the probe of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him as he announced his retirement from politics, his presidential legal counsel said on Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Panelo maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country to investigate the killings under Duterte’s drug  war.

“Wala naman silang jurisdiction kaya hindi siya nababahala doon (They don’t have jurisdiction so he is not concerned about that),” he said.

On Saturday, Duterte announced his retirement from politics citing the “overwhelming sentiment” of the Filipino people.

“The universal sentiment of the Filipino as reflected on surveys, on many forums and caucuses, and meetings to discuss what I should do in my life, the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is I’m not qualified, it would be a violation of the Constitution, to circumvent the law, the spirit of the Constitution,” Duterte said.

“So, in obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me to the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko, sundin ko ang gusto ninyo (I now say to my countrymen, I will heed your call) and today I announce my retirement from politics,” he added.

On September 8, Duterte formally accepted his nomination to be the vice presidential candidate in Eleksyon 2022 of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Duterte said that he will run for Vice President for immunity from criminal charges. —KG, GMA News