Duterte reiterates not submitting to ICC investigation

February 20, 2019

DAVAO CITY – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stood pat on not allowing any investigation by the International Criminal Court after it accepted the complaint of crimes against humanity against him due to his  administration’s war on drugs.

“[This] International Court of Justice...  Why should I submit to a foreign entity created by Europeans?,” he said during a twin anniversary celebration here on Tuesday.

He said the ICC was established by the European Union, who has reacted strongly in its criticism against his human rights records in the war on drugs.

“That’s why I said when that lady, [that] black lady was talking around here that she’s coming to investigate me.  Show me to her. Introduce me to her. I will slap her in front of the world,” he said.

“You don’t mess up in this country, violate our sovereignty and you think that you are still the colonized power. You behave as if you are,” he said.

The Philippines has sent a formal notice to pull out of the ICC in March last year. The United Nations said it would take about one year for it take effect. DMS