Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla has doubted the presence in the Philippines of investigators of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
If they are indeed in the country, said ICC investigators have the duty to inform the Philippine government, Remulla said.
“It is their responsibility and duty to make contact with the DOJ in accordance of the principles of international law,” he stressed.
“They have not made contact with the DOJ,” he noted.
Remulla reacted to reports that ICC investigators have been entering the country to probe the alleged abuses committed by law enforcement, including killings, during the illegal drugs war of the administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who cited an information from a colleague, claimed in his social media posts that the ICC has already sent investigators to the Philippines.
"Sabi ng dati naming kasama, labas-pasok diumano ang mga puti galing sa ICC. So meron po akong confirmation na talagang nag-iimbestiga ang mga dayuhan dito sa Pilipinas na labag sa ating saligang batas dahil hindi na nga po tayo miyembro ng ICC, hindi na dapat sila nag-iimbestiga (One of my former associates foreigners who are members of the ICC have been to the Philippines. So, I have confirmation that these foreigners have been conducting investigations in the country which is in violation of our Constitution because we are no longer members of the ICC),” said Roque.
Remulla said that if the ICC believes it has a case, charges should be filed in the Philippines because "we are a country with a judicial system."
On July 18, 2023, the ICC's Appeals Chamber denied the Philippines' appeal against the investigation of the so-called crimes against humanity.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which filed the appeal, had pointed out, among its arguments, that the Philippines already withdrew as a state party of the Rome Statute that created the ICC and this took effect on March 19, 2022 before the ICC prosecutor ordered an investigation on the drugs war.