Former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, now devoid of immunity, has expressed his willingness to confront any legal challenges arising from his tenure, particularly concerning the drug war. However, this openness is conditioned on the proceedings being held within the jurisdiction of Philippine courts. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a prominent supporter of Duterte, and his former spokesperson, Harry Roque, have both underscored Duterte’s readiness to face these charges domestically. Roque, in a recent television interview, relayed Duterte’s firm stance regarding any involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in these matters, emphasizing Duterte’s preference for facing legal challenges only within the Philippine judicial system.
