Rody to ready his ICC case defense after retirement


President Duterte has revealed one of his "things-to-do" after he goes back to being a civilian next year: to prepare his defense for his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during his "Talk to the People" public briefing on Monday, October 4, 2021. (Screenshot from Facebook live)

Duterte, in his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing late Monday night, Oct. 4, doubled down on his supposed plan to retire from politics after his Palace term ends on June 30, 2022.

He interpreted his lowered satisfaction ratings as the Filipino people's way of telling him "to go home".

"Gusto nila umuwi na ako sa Davao at maghintay ako sa maraming...kaso. Hintayin ko kayo (They want me to go home to Davao and wait for my many...cases. I'll wait for you)," he said.

"I will prepare for my defense. Yung ICC na yan pati yung ano. Huwag lang kayong magsinungaling. Kung totoo lang, tutal may record naman (For that ICC and others. Just don't resort to lying. Only the truth, anyway there's a record)," Duterte said.

Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, which has allegedly led to the killing of thousands of Filipinos–has placed him on news headlines here and abroad over the years.

An ICC report last month bared that 94 percent of surviving drug war victims told court prosecutors that the investigation on the bloody campaign should push through. ICC later said that it has green-lit the formal investigation of Duterte’s drug war for alleged crimes against humanity. The ICC is a UN-backed body.

Duterte, who is a lawyer, reiterated his request for a fair legal battle.

"Huwag kayong mag-imbento na yung mamatay ng malaria dyan, icha-charge rin niyo sa akin, kalokohan na yan. Hindi na justice ang hinahanap ninyo niyan. Ibigay ko sa inyo. Hindi ko kayo tinatakot, huwag lang ninyo ako dayain sa ebidensya (Don't make up stuff like a person died of malaria and you charge me with it. That's foolishness. You're not looking for justice then. I'll give it to you. I'm not trying to intimidate you, but just don't cheat me on evidence)," he said.

However, in his next few sentences, the Chief Executive talked down on the ICC and said that it would never get him.

"May sarili kaming judicial system dito (We have out own judicial system here). Wag kayong makialam. At tsaka sinabi ko (Don't interfere. And l also said), you'll never acquire jurisdiction over my person. Yan talaga ang totoo (That's really the truth)," Duterte said.