Duterte urges other nations to quit ICC

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Monday, March 19, 2018
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday urged other nations to follow his move to quit a treaty underpinning the International Criminal Court, which is examining his deadly drug war.

Duterte lashed out at the war crimes tribunal two days after his government officially notified the United Nations of his decision to pull the Philippines out of the Rome Statute.

“I said withdraw simply because to announce to the world and I will convince everybody now who (is) under the treaty: get out, get out. It is rude,” Duterte said in a speech before Philippine Military Academy graduates.

“It is not a document that was prepared by anybody. It’s an EU-sponsored (treaty),” he added as he criticized the court for going after “blacks.”

The Hague-based ICC announced last month it was launching a “preliminary examination” of Duterte’s bloody antidrug crackdown that has drawn international concern.

Duterte, 72, won elections in mid-2016 vowing to launch an unprecedented drug war in which tens of thousands of people would die.

Police said they have killed nearly 4,100 drug suspects as part of the campaign, while rights groups claim the toll is around three times the numbers given by authorities.

Opened in 2002, the ICC is the world’s only permanent war crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or unwilling.

Last Friday the Philippines formally notified the UN that it was withdrawing from the ICC, saying the stand was against “those who would politicize and weaponize human rights.”

The tribunal had urged Manila to reconsider its decision, with the president of its governing body saying he deeply regretted the move.

“A state party withdrawing from the Rome Statute would negatively impact our collective efforts toward fighting impunity,” said Assembly of State Parties president O-Gon Kwon.

But the ICC will continue with its proceedings on Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity despite the administration’s decision to withdraw.

Citing the case of Burundi, the ICC said it would retain jurisdiction over crimes it could prosecute “even after the withdrawal becomes effective.”

“Thus, in the event of a withdrawal from the ICC, this decision will not affect the continuation of the preliminary examination process,” the court told GMA News Online.

“Nor does it affect the continuing obligation of the State concerned to cooperate with the Court in relation to an investigation initiated before the withdrawal came into effect,” it added.

The ICC statement was contrary to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo’s claim that the court may no longer investigate Duterte after the announcement that the country was withdrawing its membership.

The ICC urged the Philippines, “an important State Party to the Rome Statute,” not to proceed with its intention to quit. (AFP and GMA News)
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