DOJ to brief Marcos on ICC arrest options

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing a brief on the legal options available to President Marcos on the arrest warrants that the International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue.

DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said all options will be discussed in the briefer, including the Philippines’ possibly rejoining the ICC, “with an awareness that policy frameworks may evolve.”

“The briefer will be an objective analysis of the pros and cons of each option,” he said yesterday.

Clavano, however, clarified that the Philippines remains firm in its stance that it has no legal duty to comply with any proceedings of the ICC, having withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the international body, in 2019.

“We want the President to know all his options and all the implications,” he said.

The DOJ official issued the statement in light of the possibility that the ICC will issue arrest warrants against former president Rodrigo Duterte by mid-year and for his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and other personalities in subsequent “batches” in connection with the brutal war on drugs, as claimed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Trillanes, who asserted he has been in touch with ICC representatives since its preliminary examination, during the conduct of investigation and up to the junking of Duterte’s appeal, said the ICC may push for the arrest warrant through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Apart from Duterte and his daughter, among the other personalities reportedly investigated by the ICC in connection with the crackdown on drugs are his “tokhang” enforcer Sen. Ronald de la Rosa and former aide Sen. Bong Go.

The former senator earlier disclosed that the ICC investigated more than 50 active and former police officers who served under the Duterte administration for their role in the bloody war on drugs.

President Marcos said in April that his administration will not serve any arrest warrant from the ICC against Duterte, as the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines.

He said he considers the ICC a threat to the country’s sovereignty and the government will not help in any investigation the ICC