Escudero: No ICC request for Senate records on Duterte drug war

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero–Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC) have not contacted the Senate to request documents related to the previous administration’s controversial war on drugs, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said.

In a press conference on Monday, Escudero stated that his office has yet to receive any such request.

“My office has not received such as well as the Secretary General. I am expecting that I will be informed if such moves are done,” he told reporters.

READ: Escudero: Dela Rosa can seek refuge in Senate if ICC issues warrant

Escudero made the remark following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on the grounds of alleged crimes against humanity he committed for the anti-drug campaign he orchestrated when he was still in power.

Meanwhile, in the same press conference,  Escudero made a categorical stand that he would not allow the arrest of Sen. Bato dela Rosa within the Senate grounds if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against him.

“I told him that we will try to afford him every opportunity to avail of legal remedies that he is entitled to. In fact, he already did that because he is a co-petitioner of former President Duterte in the Supreme Court although the high court did not grant them a TRO,” said Escudero.

READ: Bato dela Rosa to seek Senate protection from ICC

Duterte was served an arrest warrant from the ICC upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong on March 11.

Atty. Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, told INQUIRER.net last week that dela Rosa and retired police chief Oscar Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from the ICC for crimes against humanity over their roles in the previous administration’s drug war.