President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañang Palace in Manila on June 30, 2022. Arman Baylon, Presidential Photo/File  

MANILA — The Philippines' possible return to the International Criminal Court is up to President  Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Justice said Tuesday after a House inquiry uncovered several allegations against former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. 

During the House Quad Committee hearings, retired police colonel Royina Garma directly implicated Duterte in an alleged cash reward system in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of drug suspects – which his allies denied. 

Lawyers like former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares called on the government to refer the House proceedings to the ICC, which is investigating the drug crackdown. 

The DOJ said the President is the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy.

“As such, the Department will fully abide by and adhere to the President's foreign policy direction on this matter,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said.

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But the DOJ acknowledged calls to submit the report of the quad comm to the ICC. 

“We also acknowledge calls to rejoin the ICC,” Clavano said.

Last Monday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the government would not endorse the quad comm findings to the ICC.

Some 6,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations under Duterte, according to official data released by the Philippines. ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000 and 30,000.

Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the ICC effective in 2019, limiting the scope of the tribunal's probe.

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Marcos has taken no steps to restore Manila's ICC membership, saying Manila has a functioning judicial system. — With a report from Agence France-Presse