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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA chief defers Duterte arrest to law enforcement agencies as PH no longer ICC member

DFA chief defers Duterte arrest to law enforcement agencies as PH no longer ICC member

Published Mar 11, 2025 07:33 am

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo deferred queries on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte to law enforcement agencies because the Philippines is no longer a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Manalo_Slovenia presser.jpeg
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo speaks to the media after his meeting with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) implemented the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against the former president for crimes against humanity.

“Essentially, this a development just being handled by other agencies, especially the DILG and the PNP, DOJ . So, we defer to all activities or matters on this issue to them,” he said during an interview on the sidelines of his meeting with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.

The DFA chief was referring to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has jurisdiction over the PNP, and the Department of Justice.

Manalo said he is “not really familiar” with the procedure when a former president is arrested by The Hague ruling because “we are not a member of the ICC.”

“In fact, we are not in communication with them ever since we got out,” he explained.

Duterte pulled out from the Rome Statute in 2019, a year after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his administration’s bloody war on drugs killings.

The ICC maintains jurisdictions on incidents that happened until the withdrawal was finalized.

Prodded further by reporters on what the country’s role will be once the trial at The Hague begins, Manalo said he cannot speculate on it.

“I think the best is to ask the agencies which are directly involved with this issue,” he pointed out.

The Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign took the lives of tens of thousands of Filipinos. While some reports said the number was at 7,000, various human rights groups claimed the actual number could be well above 20,000 to 35,000.

The ICC case was filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Also named in the case as the chief implementor of the bloody campaign is Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who is up for reelection.

Related Tags

International Criminal Court Duterte arrest order DFA The Hague
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