ICC may course arrest warrants through law enforcement agency - DOJ

Metro Manila, Philippines - While the Philippines has withdrawn from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arrest warrants issued by the judicial body may be coursed through a law enforcement agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, March 10.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said they have not received any notice of warrant from the international body amid unconfirmed reports that one has been released for the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Dahil hindi na tayo miyembro ay pwede naman silang dumeretso sa law enforcement agency; pwede rin silang dumeretso sa third-party country na miyembro pa rin ng ICC. So, medyo malawak ‘yung magiging mga options ng ICC ngayon dahil nga hindi tayo miyembro at hindi na tayo formal na nasa ICC,” Clavano told reporters.

[Translation: Since we are not a member anymore, the ICC can communicate with the law enforcement agency or a third-party country that is an ICC member. The options of the ICC would be vast.]

The spokesman noted that the Philippines is a member country of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). Hence, the country has a National Central Bureau (NCB) which handles concerns and requests from the Interpol.

The NCB is composed of the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Immigration, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

“If ever there are instructions from the Interpol–and of course, dahil nag-sign tayo sa [because we signed that] international agreement na ‘yan–we are bound to oblige and to respect that,” Clavano said.

“All these requests, dadaan kasi talaga ‘yan ng [these will undergo] evaluation. So, we have to see if all the supporting documents are ready and that the Interpol request is a valid request. That is the only time that it would be given due course and on that basis, gagalaw na ‘yung mga ahensya [the agencies will act],” he explained.

Clavano stressed the government is prepared for the possibility of the ICC issuing an arrest warrant.

The ICC has been looking into supposed crimes against humanity in the Philippines linked to Duterte’s war on drugs which has killed tens of thousands of victims.

Government agencies have yet to confirm speculations that an ICC arrest order is out.