Aide says Duterte willing to face international probe

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to be probed internationally in connection with a spate of drug-related killings that have placed his presidency under the microscope, a top presidential Palace official said Friday.

In a press statement issued to reporters, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the president has articulated that he is willing to submit himself for an investigation before any body.

"Drug-related killings, including vigilante killings, are not state-sanctioned. Many of those who died were killed during legitimate police operations which are currently undergoing investigation as directed by the president," Andanar said.

Andanar was responding to comments by Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who has expressed concern over the increasing number of killings.

Bensouda has said her office would begin to “closely” monitor developments in the country on reports of alleged extrajudicial killings that have left more than 3,000 drug dealers and users dead.

"Extra-judicial killings may fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if they are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population pursuant to a State policy to commit such an attack," Philippine Star quoted Bensouda as saying in a statement issued in The Hague.

In Friday's statement, Andanar said that even the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights -- who conducted a legislative probe on extrajudicial killings -- has been quoted as saying that "there is no proof that the killings were state-sponsored".

Duterte himself has sent an invitation to the United Nations, U.S. and the European Union to come to the Philippines and probe the killings.

In a televised speech Thursday, he underlined his resolve to finish his war against drugs.

“I will not stop until the last pusher, until the last drug lord is taken away,” he said, adding that he is risking his honor, his life and his presidency in his war against drugs.