The head of the International Criminal Court’s management oversight and legislative body expressed interest to visit the Philippines to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to withdraw the country’s membership from the organization.
President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, O-Gon Kwon, said that the country’s withdrawal from ICC would “impact negatively on the global efforts to fight impunity.”
“One thing I can add is I’m ready to fly to Manila to engage in dialogue with any authorities of the Philippines’ government, and have open debate, if feasible and necessary, any time,” Kwon told ANC.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said that ICC’s plan to discuss the issue with Philippine officials is already ‘too late’.
“Too late the hero. Let him talk to that prosecutor,” Roque said in a statement.
Duterte announced on Wednesday, March 14, that the Philippines is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), ordering it to be ‘effective immediately’.
Duterte cited that the basis for his decision is the “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” of the ICC against him and his war-on-drugs campaign, adding that the attempt of the ICC to place him under the tribunal’s jurisdiction as another reason.
“I therefore declare and forthwith give notice, as President of the Republic of the Philippines, that the Philippines is withdrawing its ratification of the Rome Statute effective immediately,” the President said in a statement.
Earlier, ICC conducted a “preliminary investigation” on Duterte’s war on drugs after a complaint was filed against the Philippine president due to high number of killings recorded during the campaign.
ICC clarified that the “investigation” was simply an examination to check if there are grounds to proceed with a deeper investigation.
Duterte, however, stressed that the ICC has no power over the Philippine government.
“You cannot acquire jurisdiction over me, not in a million years,” he emphasized.
ICC is an intergovernmental organization that serves as a permanent international court that can prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes among others.
