Marcos: Gov't won't lift a finger to help ICC

The government will not lift a finger to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its probe on the previous administration's war on drugs, President Marcos said yesterday.

- ALEXIS ROMERO

But while Marcos said an ICC probe poses a "threat" to Philippine sovereignty, he clarified that members of the tribunal could visit the country in their personal capacity.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) denied reports that ICC probers came to the Philippines last December to conduct an investigation.

"Let me say this for the 100th time.

I do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC in the Philippines. I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty," Marcos said in a chance interview.

"However, as ordinary people, they can come and visit the Philippines, but we will not help them. In fact, we are watching them, making sure that they do not come into contact with any agency of government," he added.

The President instructed government entities not to engage with the ICC representatives.

“If they are contacting agencies of government, whether the police or local government, do not answer. That will be our response. That we do not recognize your jurisdiction, therefore, we will not assist in any way, shape or form, any of the investigations that the ICC is doing in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Seek consent

The justice department denied that ICC investigators visited the Philippines last month and gathered evidence in the crimes against humanity complaint filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte.