President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday reiterated his previous remarks that he will not accept the move of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate him over the alleged crimes of his infamous war on drugs campaign.
"They want me to go to prison. Well, maybe, but it has to be a Philippine prison and I must be judged by a judicial court of the Republic of the Philippines and I must be prosecuted, kailangan Pilipino," the President said in his speech during the inauguration of the Philippine Ports Authority seaport expansion project and the Philippine Coast Guard Kalayaan station in Palawan.
"Ano bang problema nila? Bakit sila pumunta dito? Kaya I will never accept jurisdiction. Mag-ice na ang impyerno, hindi ako papayag sa kalokohan nila," he added.
[What is their problem? Why are they coming here? That's why I will never accept jurisdiction. Even if hell freezes, I will not heed to their nonsense.]
Duterte added that he will only face Filipino judges, not international ones.
"Jurisdiction? Ako? Akong haharap ng mga judges na puti? P** ina nila. Ako? Haharap ako ng Filipino judges, hindi kayo," he stated.
In the same speech, the President also admitted the faults in his administrations.
"Wala naman tayong problema na mayroon tayong mga kasalanan, admitted man 'yan, either intentional or unintentional. Pero 'yang sa droga, 'di yan sinadya. Pero ‘yung mga ilang drug lords na ni-raid tapos napatay at ‘yung mga mayors, akin ‘yan. ‘Yung mga lahat na raid na namatay, mayor, akin ‘yan. I assume full responsibility," Duterte said.
[We do not have a problem with having mistakes. I admit that either intentionally or unintentionally. But in the drug campaign, that is not intentional. But some drug lords and mayors who were killed in drug raids, are mine. I assume full responsibility.]
Duterte also mentioned that if there's anyone who should go to prison, it should be him since the police forces were only acting upon his orders.
In September, the ICC said it found reasonable ground to investigate the Philippines' war on drugs for alleged crimes against humanity.
Malacañang repeatedly mentioned how the President would not cooperate with the international court as the country was no longer a member of the ICC.
