MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warrant of arrest for prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for illegal investigation of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. ICC is investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity.

In issuing the arrest warrant, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told The Adobo Chronicles that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines because the country has withdrawn from the Rome Statute way back in 2019. “For ICC to continue its illegal investigation is a violation of the Philippines’ sovereign status.” Remulla said.

DOJ’s action comes just hours after the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimi Putin for alleged war crimes in connection with the Ukraine conflict.