The Hague
Philippines do not want to rejoin the World Criminal Court
The new President of the Philippines has been in office since the end of June. photo
© Jamillah Sta Rosa/AFP POOL/dpa
After investigations into the brutal war on drug crime, ex-President Duterte announced his withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. His successor sees no reason to turn around.
The Philippines will not rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, even under their new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The 64-year-old head of government, who has been in office since the end of June, announced this on Monday. In March 2018, his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte announced his country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court after it launched investigations into his brutal war on drug-related crime.
“The Philippines has no intention of rejoining the ICC,” the dictator’s son Marcos Jr. told reporters. “The ICC wants to continue the investigation, but we’re saying we already have an ongoing investigation here at home – so why would that be necessary?” he added.
The exit came into force on March 17, 2019. According to the basic treaty, however, the Criminal Court remains responsible for crimes committed during the period in which the Philippines was a state party. During his tenure from the end of June 2016, Duterte cracked down on suspected drug criminals. Several thousand people are said to have been killed by death squads.