Guevarra meets with Marcos to discuss ICC drug war probe

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has met with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and discussed the government's stand regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC's) move to reopen the probe into the Duterte administration's drug war.

"We discussed the government’s position on the ICC investigation," Guevarra told GMA News Online regarding the meeting held Wednesday. "But I'd rather not preempt the President." 

Malacañang has yet to release any information about the meeting. 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla was also present in the meeting but he did not disclose details regarding what was tackled, saying that the Palace will be the one who will announce its details.

"We had a meeting with former Secretary Menardo Guevarra who is now the Solicitor General. We met with the Executive Secretary, the Chief Legal Counsel, myself… and of course [the] President to speak about our concerns about the ICC issue, which of course you'll find out in the next few days…" Remulla said during a meeting with the Rotary Club of Manila.

"Wait for Malacañang to wait for the announcement on our drift in the ICC," he added.

Guevarra earlier said he would seek the opinion of Marcos as well as that of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, and international law experts regarding the invitation of the Hague-based court for the Philippines to provide observations on its request to reopen the probe.

Guevarra has said his office will look into the issue of ICC's jurisdiction to investigate the Philippines.

In March 2019, the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC after the body launched a preliminary examination of Duterte's controversial campaign against illegal drugs, which has been linked to thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News