Palace: PH to respond ‘favorably’ if Interpol acts on ICC probe

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Bersamin said Manila has to honor its obligations since it is also benefitting from the Interpol in other cases. (PNA File Photo)

MANILA – The Philippine government will cooperate, in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeks the International Criminal Police Organization’s (Interpol) help to gain jurisdiction over former president Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said Friday.

Speaking to Palace reporters in Pasay City, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin maintained that the Philippines’ stance on its withdrawal from the ICC remains unchanged but stressed that it has to honor the terms of its membership with the Interpol.

“We have withdrawn from the ICC, membership from the ICC. And that withdrawal is already in effect,” Bersamin said.

“Pero (But) we have been very clear in our statements regarding this. If the ICC makes a move and courses the move through the Interpol and the Interpol makes the request to us for the arrest or delivery of the custody of a person subject to ICC jurisdiction, we will respond favorably or positively to the Interpol request,” he added.

Bersamin said Manila has to honor its obligations since it is also benefitting from the Interpol in other cases.

He said the Philippine government could not ignore the Interpol, in the event it issues a “red notice” for Duterte, who is being investigated by the ICC for the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the drug war launched by the past administration.

“’Yung (The) request ng (of the) Interpol should always be respected because Interpol is also doing us the service in other areas similar to this. So, that’s the meaning of the comity,” Bersamin said.

Bersamin’s statement comes after Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said the Philippines is ready to sit down with the ICC and discuss certain areas” of cooperation with regard to its investigation into Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign.

Remulla, in an interview with Reuters, said the dialogue would be held “soon in a very well-defined manner, in the spirit of comity.”

Duterte earlier said he is also willing to “go to prison and rot there for all time,” if found guilty.

The Interpol’s “red notice” is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

However, a red notice is not an international arrest warrant and is restricted to law enforcement use only.

An individual placed on a red notice is wanted by a requesting member country or international tribunal.

The ICC is currently gathering evidence in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity associated with Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines.

Over 6,200 drug suspects died in anti-narcotics operations during the Duterte administration from June 2016 to November 2021, according to government data.