PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, October 4, 2021, said he will go home to Davao City after he steps down and prepare for his defense before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is set to conduct an investigation into the killings related to the drug war.
“Gusto nila umuwi na ako sa Davao at maghintay ako sa maraming si dada nang dada diyan ng kaso. Hintayin ko kayo. I will prepare for my defense na 'yung ICC,” he said as he reacted to his low satisfaction ratings.
“Huwag lang kayong magsinungaling. Kung totoo lang tutal may record naman. Huwag kayong mag-imbento na 'yung namatay ng malaria diyan pati --- icha-charge ninyo sa akin. Kalokohan na 'yan. Hindi na justice ang hinahanap ninyo niyan. Ibigay ko sa inyo. Hindi ko kayo tinatakot. Huwag lang ninyo akong dayain sa ebidensya,” he added.
He maintained, however, that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines since the government already withdrew from the Rome Statute and that the country has its own working judicial system.
“Pilipino ako, hindi ako international body. May sarili kaming judicial system dito. Huwag kayong makialam. At saka sinabi ko, you never acquired jurisdiction over my person. Iyan talaga ang totoo maski anong baliktarin ninyo. Maski ang ICC, maski 'yang dito. Kung i-base mo 'yung bisa ninyo diyan lang sa 'yung... Wala 'yan,” he said.
On September 15, the ICC granted the request of its Prosecutor’s Office to pursue an investigation on the alleged crime against humanity in the Philippines in the context of the administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs.
The investigation will cover the period July 1, 2016, when Duterte took office, to March 16, 2019, when Duterte ordered the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)