MANILA (UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot have jurisdiction over him, as he again defended his war on drugs.
The ICC recently started its initial review into a communication filed by a Filipino lawyer alleging crimes against humanity in Duterte’s drug war.
The President, however, remains unfazed by the development, telling the ICC: “You cannot acquire jurisdiction over me, not in a million years kaya di ko sinasagot.”
“They cannot ever ever hope to acquire jurisdiction over my person. Hindi nga ako maniwala sa nanay ko, sa kanila pa?”
The ICC's move stems from the communication filed by Filipino lawyer Jude Sabio in April last year accusing Duterte and other government officials of committing crimes against humanity due to its war on drugs, where over 4,000 have been killed in police operations.
Duterte’s allies have also downplayed the ICC’s preliminary examination, saying the tribunal will ultimately decide it has no jurisdiction over the charges.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the administration is confident that the proceedings against Duterte and other officials will not prosper beyond the preliminary examination phase, noting the long time it takes time for complaints against several personalities to progress in the ICC.