President Duterte is willing to go to jail if found guilty by a local court over alleged rights abuses but doesn't want to be locked up alone.
In a televised address Wednesday, the President said he intends to bring some "dilawan" or yellow opposition forces with him if he gets convicted and sent to jail.
"Now there are many violations of human rights everywhere eh, hindi ninyo iniintindi kasi nakikinig kayo sa pulitika dito. Na-politicize 'yan eh. Trabaho ng dilawan 'yan (you do not understand because you listen to these politicians. It has been politicized. That's the handiwork of the yellows)," Duterte said.
"Kung ako ang makulong sa --- magdala ako ng mga limang dilawan, sabihin ko sa iyo. Magpakulong ako, magdala ako ng dalawang dilawan, mamili ako sa kanila. Ano --- bakit...? Paano ko kayo dalhin? Iyan ang problema ninyo (If I go to jail, I will bring five yellows with me, I'm telling you. I'm ready to go to jail but I will bring two yellows, I will choose from the. How will I bring them? That's your problem)," he added.
READ: Duterte not bothered by ICC complaint
The President has expressed readiness to face any charges in a local court instead of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with his controversial war on drugs.
Duterte insisted that the Hague-based tribunal would never acquire jurisdiction over him since the Rome Statute, that created the ICC, did not become a law in the country. Despite the Senate ratification of the treaty, he claimed that the document was not published on the Official Gazette, a requirement before taking effect in the country.
READ: Duterte ready to face death penalty in local court, not ICC
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda recently asked the tribunal to launch an investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity during the drug war from 2016 to 2019.
The Philippines left the Rome Statute shortly over alleged violations of due process after a preliminary examination into the drug war was initiated by Bensouda in 2018. The Palace has dismissed Bensouda’s request to launch a full inquiry in the drug war as “legally erroneous and politically motivated.”