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Philippine President Marcos says he will not comply with ICC if it seeks the arrest of his predecessor, Duterte
Asia: Philippines
Philippine President Marcos says he will not comply with ICC if it seeks the arrest of his predecessor, Duterte
In April 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos publicly declared that he would not comply with the International Criminal Court (ICC), should it seek the arrest of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
The ICC was investigating allegations of human rights abuses during Duterte's controversial anti-narcotics campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths since its inception in 2016 —a campaign that has persisted under Marcos' administration.
During a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Marcos firmly stated that the Philippines does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC and considers itself in compliance with international law by refusing to honor any arrest warrant issued for Duterte. This stance followed Duterte's decision to withdraw the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 as the Hague-based court began its probe into the drug war.
Despite an initial suspension of the inquiry at Manila's request, the ICC resumed its investigation after pre-trial judges authorized it in January 2023, a decision upheld despite Manila's appeal. Official figures from the Philippines put the death toll of the drug war at over 6,000, while ICC prosecutors estimated fatalities could be as high as 30,000.
Marcos has continued the drug war but emphasized prevention and rehabilitation more than his predecessor. He has also categorically dismissed the possibility of rejoining the ICC, citing a functioning domestic judicial system as justification for the court's lack of jurisdiction.
The relationship between the Marcos and Duterte families has become strained, particularly after their alliance helped secure Marcos' victory in the 2022 presidential election. This alliance was aided by Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, who served as Marcos’ vice-presidential running mate. However, tensions have surfaced, with both families engaging in mutual accusations of drug abuse and political disagreements, including Duterte's call for Mindanao's secession.
When asked about his current ties with the Duterte family, Marcos ambiguously described them as "complicated," eliciting laughter from the audience, signaling the nuanced and potentially contentious nature of their political relationship.
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