Palace won’t let ICC probers in the Philippines

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File photo shows presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

The STAR / Joven Cagande

 

MANILA, Philippines — The government won’t allow International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators to come to the Philippines to look into the killings tied to President Duterte’s drug war because only local authorities can probe crimes that happened in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.

 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the exercise of jurisdiction and sovereignty is exclusive to the Philippines and the country no longer has the obligation to cooperate with the ICC.

 

“No, because we are a free and sovereign country. Because of sovereignty and jurisdiction... only the Philippines can investigate the crimes that happened within its territory now that we are no longer part of the Rome Statute of the ICC,” Roque said at a press briefing when asked whether the government would allow ICC investigators into the country.

 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/09/21/2128512/palace-wont-let-icc-probers-philippines

 

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