Duterte may follow Russia exit from ICC

Rody favors ‘new world order’ with China, Russia

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte just might take Russia’s cue and withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he called “useless” and strongly biased against small nations like the Philippines in trying human rights cases.

“They withdrew their membership. I might follow. Why? Only the small ones like us are battered,” Duterte said in remarks yesterday at the Davao International Airport before leaving for Peru for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

He said powerful nations were never made to account for the killing of thousands in Aleppo, Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

“The killings are endless,” he said. “Just because it is America, it does not mean that it is good.”

Unlike the Philippines, which acceded to the ICC founding treaty in 2011, Russia signed but never ratified the treaty. It has therefore never been under ICC jurisdiction so its withdrawal was largely symbolic.

Duterte took aim anew at US foreign policy and the United Nations and said he would be happier if Russia and China called the shots.

“You know, if China and Russia would decide to create a new order, I will be the first to join,” he said.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had earlier warned that Philippine officials could be haled before the court for state-sponsored extrajudicial killings in the drug war. The court has jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression committed since July 2002.

“I want to get out of… there used to be (what) they called (the) League of Nations before. It was in The Hague… this predecessor of the United Nations. It used to be called League of Nations,” Duterte said.

He added a new world order should “be guided only by the best interest of the people.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order removing Russia’s signature from the founding treaty of the ICC on Wednesday.

Duterte said he is inclined to accept the offer of Russia to help the Philippines in its war against illegal drugs.

Duterte, known for his frank statements, speculated that Russia’s ICC move might be because of its air strikes in Syria.

“The problem is Russia withdrew from the ICC. What could be the reason? I really do not know. Maybe to protect what they are doing in Syria, the incessant bombing and the killing of civilians,” the President added.

Russia is under international pressure over the Syria air strikes, with some human rights activists and US officials accusing it of bombing civilians and civilian targets. Russia has denied those allegations.

Duterte said he was annoyed by criticisms of his drug war and that “nobody was listening” to his reasons for the crackdown, including US President Barack Obama.

Duterte is slated to hold bilateral talks with Putin on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Peru. “The theme of our talk? To reset relations,” the President said.

Amid reports of thousands of drug-related killings in the Philippines, the ICC’s Bensouda earlier warned, “Let me be clear: any person in the Philippines who incites or engages in acts of mass violence including by ordering, requesting, encouraging or contributing, in any other manner, to the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC is potentially liable to prosecution before the court.”

“I am deeply concerned about these alleged killings and the fact that public statements of high officials of the Republic of the Philippines seem to condone such killings and further seem to encourage state forces and civilians alike to continue targeting these individuals with lethal force,” she added.

The ICC steps in only when countries are unable or unwilling to prosecute crimes against their own people.

The Rome Statute of the ICC went into force in the Philippines in November 2011, bringing to 117 the number of states that had ratified the founding treaty.