DOJ says no arrest warrant notice for Duterte from ICC

UNDER PROBE. Former president Rodrigo Duterte attends an inquiry on his administration’s war on drugs at the House of Representatives on Wednesday (Nov. 13, 2024). Malacañang said the Philippine government would respect Duterte’s decision to surrender to the International Criminal Court in the event that he is found guilty of alleged crimes against humanity committed during the implementation of his anti-drug campaign. (Screen grab via House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has not received any warrant of arrest for former president Rodrigo R. Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the previous administration’s war on drugs, an official said Monday.

Malacañang earlier said the government is “prepared for any eventuality” amid reports on the ICC’s issuance of the warrant.

“I can only really verify those documents that come into the DOJ and as of today, wala pa po tayong nare-receive na (we have not received) any warrant issued by the ICC,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano told reporters in a chance interview.

“Kaya ang sinasabi lang ho natin that the government is ready kung sakaling magkaroon po ng warrant of arrest galing sa ICC (What we’re saying is that the government is ready if ever a warrant of arrest is issued by the ICC),” he added.

Clavano said it is likely that the normal process for such issuance would not be observed as the country has already withdrawn as a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

He said the proper process if the country is still a signatory would be for the ICC to inform either the Office of the President, Department of Foreign Affairs or the DOJ.

“So dahil po hindi na tayo miyembro ay puwede naman sila dumiretso sa law enforcement agency, puwede rin silang dumiretso sa third-party country na miyembro pa rin ng ICC (So since we are no longer a member of the ICC, they can go straight to a law enforcement agency or a third-party country that is still an ICC member),” Clavano explained.

The ICC is investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the killings linked to his administration’s war on drugs.