The International Criminal Court (ICC) has clarified that the potential surrender of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the court is a decision that rests solely with Manila.
Dr. Fadi El Abdallah, spokesperson for the ICC, stated that any questions regarding the legality of such a move would have to be submitted to the court’s judges. His statement comes amid discussions about Duterte’s alleged human rights violations during his administration’s controversial war on drugs.
“The surrender of Mr. Duterte to the ICC is a matter for the Philippine authorities to decide. If there are legal challenges regarding this issue, they must be presented to the judges,” El Abdallah said.
The ICC has been investigating allegations of crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which reportedly led to thousands of extrajudicial killings. The former president and his allies have repeatedly rejected the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019.
Despite the country’s withdrawal, ICC prosecutors have maintained that they still have jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a member state. The possibility of Duterte facing trial remains a subject of debate within the Philippine government and legal community.
As discussions continue, international observers and human rights groups are closely monitoring developments surrounding the case. The Philippine government has yet to release an official statement regarding Duterte’s potential surrender to the ICC.
