Duterte hits ICC anew for ‘interfering’ in Philippine affairs

After an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor found a “reasonable basis” for claims that crimes against humanity were committed in his war on drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday once again lashed out at the Hague-based tribunal.

“‘Maya ko na sagutin ‘yang ICC ICC na ‘yan, puro kabalastugan,” he said in his weekly national address.

“In the first place, why are you interfering in the affairs of my country and other countries? And who gave you the authority, what divine law gave you the authority to prosecute me in a foreign land tapos ang nakaupo, puro kayo mga puti,” he added.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda earlier said “information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that the crimes against humanity… were committed” in connection with the Duterte Administration’s war on drugs.

Duterte claimed that there was no need for the ICC to step in because the Philippines had “functioning” courts.

“If the courts here [say] I will go to jail, I will go to jail. Walang problema ‘yan. I did what I embarked to do. It was an election promise. ‘Pag ‘yan ang suwerteng inabutan ko, so be it,” he said.

In a previous address, Duterte also expressed a readiness to go to jail if it was his “destiny.”

In 2018, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC after the international tribunal began studying whether it had the jurisdiction to probe the war on drugs.

He later vowed never to answer to the ICC.

The Commission on Human Rights, meanwhile, urged the government to address the findings of the ICC prosecutor.  — DVM, GMA News