Marcos: ICC a threat to PH sovereignty

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that he considers the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a threat to Philippine sovereignty.

In an ambush interview, Marcos reiterated that he does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction over the country.

"Let me say this for the 100th time, I do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC in the Philippines. I do not, I find, I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty," Marcos said.

"Therefore, the Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts," he added.

However, Marcos said the ICC probers could come and visit the Philippines as "ordinary people," but he said the government would strictly monitor their actions, especially if they intend to talk to agencies.

"Pero hindi kami tutulong sa kanila. In fact, binabantayan namin sila, making sure that hindi sila, they do not come into contact with any agency of government, and if they are contacting agencies of government, na sasabihin ng whatever, pulis man, local government, 'wag niyong sasagutin. Iyon ang sagot natin," Marcos said.

(We will not help them. In fact, we are keeping an eye on them, making sure that they do not come into contact with any agency of government, and if they are contacting agencies of government, regardless if it's the police, local government, our officials should not respond to their questions. That is our answer.)

"We do not recognize your jurisdiction, therefore we will not assist in any way, shape, or form, in any investigation that the ICC is doing in the Philippines," he added.

The President's statement comes on the heels of Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa's call Monday that Malacañang should say if it allowed ICC investigators to enter the Philippines.

Also on Monday, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed to have information that ICC probers arrived in the country last December, and that a warrant is expected to be issued soon against former President Rodrigo Duterte and other respondents in connection with the tribunal's probe on the Philippines' "war on drugs."

The former lawmaker also said that the ICC probers were able to conduct interviews with concerned individuals.

To recall, the President said in February last year that he would not cooperate with the ICC investigation into the alleged abuses committed under the Duterte administration's drug war.

The following month, Dela Rosa, who had earlier tagged himself as the "number 2 accused" in the ICC investigation, claimed that Marcos promised that the ICC would not be able to touch him.

ICC's response

In a statement to GMA Integrated News, the ICC assured that it would continue to seek justice for the victims of the drug war. Part of this effort, the ICC said, is to dialogue with the Philippine government and relevant stakeholders.

"The ICC Office of the Prosecutor is pursuing its efforts to deliver justice to victims in the Philippines," the ICC statement read, adding that, "Under the Rome Statute, these efforts are complementary to national efforts, and nothing about the ICC investigation should stop or hinder national criminal investigations and prosecutions."

"While pursuing its investigation, the Office will seek to engage and establish a dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including the Philippine Government and civil society," the ICC said.

Meanwhile, the ICC neither confirmed nor denied if its any of its investigators had entered or are currently in the Philippines, saying these were operational details of its ongoing efforts.

The ICC Appeals Chamber previously denied the Philippine government’s appeal to stop the probe, asserting that the country failed to prove that a legitimate investigation into the drug war killings and prosecution of the perpetrators were being undertaken by Philippine authorities. — VDV, GMA Integrated News