Duterte to Int'l Criminal Court: Drug war continues, case or no case

'The war or the drive against drugs will not stop and it will last until the day I step out,' says a defiant President Rodrigo Duterte
Rappler (Philippines)
Monday, February 12, 2018

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to appear unfazed by the International Criminal Court’s preliminary examination into his drug war, saying it will not stop the controversial campaign. “The war or the drive against drugs will not stop and it will last until the day I step out. If I go to prison, I go to prison,” Duterte said. Duterte said the ICC could not declare him guilty of a crime since merely threatening criminals with death is not a crime. The Philippine President has threatened to withdraw from the ICC. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the ICC preliminary examination is a “waste of time” as the Philippines’ justice system is fully functioning, thus the international court, as a “court of last resort,” has no jurisdiction over the drug war.