Allegations vs Duterte before ICC “will not fly”: Aguirre

February 9, 2018

Allegation that President Duterte committed crimes against humanity filed with the International Criminal Court "will not fly", Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Friday.

Aguirre made the statement after the ICC announced that it will conduct preliminary examination of the allegation the Duterte administration committed crimes against humanity over deaths  from its campaign against illegal drugs.

“Of course, the accusations (of crimes against humanity) will not fly,” Aguirre said in a text message.

The Philippine government will designate a lawyer who will represent the government before the ICC.

“We will know who will represent after a few more meetings,” he added.

ICC prosecutor Fatous Bensouda said on Thursday through a YouTube video they would examine the crimes allegedly committed by the government since July 1, 2016, or the day after Duterte took office.

Bensouda assured the Philippine government that the preliminary examination would be carried out "with full independence and impartiality in accordance with its mandate and the applicable legal instruments of the Court.” DMS