Remulla: Int'l bodies in Philippines must follow Constitution, laws

The presence of international bodies in the Philippines must follow the Constitution and the country's laws, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Friday.

In a statement, Remulla reiterated that the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seeks to investigate then-President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, has no jurisdiction in the Philippines.

"I would like to emphasize that any presence of international bodies within the Philippines must adhere to our Constitution and relevant laws," Remulla said.

"Our justice system is robust and functional, fully equipped to safeguard the rights of our people, irrespective of their color, race, beliefs, or creed," he added.

The Department of Justice previously said that foreign entities such as the ICC must first obtain the approval of several government agencies before conducting official activities in the Philippines.

“Under my leadership, the Department of Justice remains resolute in our dedication to upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law," Remulla said.

"The welfare and protection of every Filipino citizen lies at the core of our mission, and we will relentlessly defend their rights regardless of beliefs or creed,” he added.

Remulla’s remark came days after Former Davao Senior Police Officer Arturo "Arthur" Lascañas, an alleged member of the original Davao Death Squad (DDS), accused Vice President Sara Duterte of involvement in extra-judicial killings in Davao.

Sara Duterte, for her part, said she had yet to receive any documents indicating that she was a respondent in the probe on the drug war. 

Despite this, she said her lawyers were prepared should she become involved.

The Vice President had also said that she would only face any allegation linking her to the DDS before a Philippine court.

The Philippines, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2019 after the tribunal began a probe into the drug war, followed by a formal inquiry in September 2021.

The scope of the ICC probe covered the killings from November 2011 until March 2019, including those killings by the Davao Death Squad when the elder Duterte was still the mayor of Davao City before assuming the presidency in June 2016.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., for his part, did not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines, adding that he considered it a threat to Philippine sovereignty. — DVM/NB, GMA Integrated News