Marcos Jr. refuses to hand over Duterte to the International Criminal Court
MADRID, April 15 – Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has categorically rejected the surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant for his ‘war’ policy against drugs’, which has generated controversy.
Marcos Jr., stating that the ICC has no jurisdiction to judge the acts of his government, has underlined his refusal to cooperate with the international court in this matter.
Answer to the accusations
The Philippine president has rejected the death tolls presented by human rights organizations, considering that the ICC’s actions endanger the country’s sovereignty.
This is a setback for the victims and their families, who have denounced human rights violations by the security forces during the ‘war on drugs’.
International consequences
The abandonment of the Rome Statute by the Philippine government in 2019 has received criticism worldwide, placing the country at the center of intense international controversy.
Despite this, Marcos Jr. has suggested the possibility of studying compensations for victims, while organizations such as Human Rights Watch estimate that the death toll due to Duterte’s policies exceeds 27,000.
The ICC investigation into the ‘war on drugs’
The ICC investigation, based on a complaint filed by NGOs and victims’ families, focuses on Duterte’s violent campaign against drug traffickers, which has also extended to the civilian population.