The Philippines says it would cooperate if the ICC sought Duterte's detention on drug-related killings

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine government said Wednesday that its law enforcement agencies are obliged to cooperate if the International Criminal Court is seeking custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte as part of an investigation into thousands of deaths during his crackdown on illegal drugs.

The Hague-based court is investigating the widespread killings that took place during Duterte's tenure as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president from 2016 to 2020 as a possible crime against humanity.

Human rights groups estimate there could be more than 20,000 deaths during Duterte's presidency alone. The bloody campaign alarmed Western governments and led to complaints that triggered an investigation by the International Criminal Court, a court of last resort for crimes that countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute themselves.

With intense grilling on television Congressional investigation On Wednesday, the brash-speaking Duterte made contradictory statements about whether he would face the global court for investigation.

“The ICC doesn’t scare me. You can come here anytime,” Duterte told House members conducting the investigation. “I ask the ICC to hurry up and come here tomorrow and start the investigation.”

“This problem has been bothering me for many years and I could die,” said the 79-year-old. “If I’m found guilty, I can go to prison and rot there forever.”

However, Duterte later said that he would physically kick any ICC investigator who confronted him.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the most senior Cabinet member, said that if Duterte “wants to submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, the government will neither object nor take any action to block the fulfillment of his wish.”

“But if the ICC transfers the process to Interpol, which may then forward a Red Notice to the Philippine authorities, the government will feel obliged to consider the Red Notice as a request that must be granted,” Bersamin said. “In this case, domestic law enforcement agencies are obliged to fully support Interpol in accordance with established protocols.”

A red notice alerts law enforcement worldwide to locate and temporarily detain an individual until they are extradited or surrendered.

Duterte The Philippines withdrew Activists said it was an attempt to evade responsibility and prevent an international investigation into the drug killings. However, the ICC still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member state of the court.

Duterte's successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said his government has no plans to rejoin the ICC.

During the congressional inquiry, Duterte renewed a vague promise under oath that he would take full responsibility for the actions – whether “right or wrong” – of the police officers who enforced his anti-drug crackdown during his time in office.

Duterte denied any involvement when confronted with specific details of the killings. He claimed he once pushed a suspected criminal out of a helicopter as punishment, but later backed off, saying that was an “exaggeration” that should not be taken literally.