By Genalyn D. Kabiling
If the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicts him for the war on illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said he was willing to die for the country like national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (Keith Bacongco / MANILA BULLETIN)
Unfazed by the ICC inquiry, the President said he was ready to face the consequences of his relentless campaign against the drug trade, including a death sentence.
"Do not worry about me. I can face the ICC. If they want to indict me and convict me, fine. I will gladly do it for my country,” the President said during the oath-taking ceremony of new appointees in Malacañang.
“Find a place where they allow execution by firing squad. I would love to experience what Rizal experienced,” he added.
Rizal, convicted of sedition and rebellion against the Spanish colonizers, was executed through a firing squad in Manila in December 30, 1896.
The President, meantime, declared that the war on drugs would be pursued without letup despite the ICC inquiry on the killings related to the campaign.
He said the drug campaign will continue until the end of his term.
Duterte also defended his threat to kill those who will destroy the nation, saying he is merely expressing a "personal outrage."
However, Duterte strongly denied ordering the security forces to murder people in his campaign against the drug trade.
The ICC has opened a preliminary probe into the alleged crimes linked to Duterte's war on drugs. The court will look into whether or not crimes against humanity have been committed and if it has the authority to bring the suspects to trial.
Malacañang earlier said the ICC inquiry was a waste of the court's time and resources.