Marcos: Duterte's testimony to be assessed for possible drug war case

TAGAYTAY CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that all testimonies made by former president Rodrigo Duterte "will be taken in" the government's investigation into the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his administration's drug war for a possible case buildup.Speaking to reporters, Marcos said that the testimony provided by Duterte would be assessed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to see their legal consequences."Right now, that is being done by the PNP. And so, we are looking – we're waiting for their findings. But you know, all of the testimony that was given yesterday really – will be taken in and will be assessed to see what – in legal terms, what is the real meaning and consequence of some of the statements made by PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte)," Marcos said."Now, if that will result in a case being filed here in the Philippines, we will just have to see. The DOJ will have to make that assessment," he added.The President said that the government was "always monitoring all of these things because the question on EJK has not yet been answered.""Who has been – who is responsible. And we had – some of them – the mothers of some of the victims that were there, and up to now, they have not seen justice for the murders of their children. And that still...," Marcos said."So that – that is the DOJ's responsibility to continue to examine all bits of comments, of statements, of testimony, and eventually of evidence, to see that is a – that justifies a case to be filed," he added.The President also reiterated the Philippines' stance that it would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) despite Duterte's challenge for the ICC to investigate him.Marcos, however, said that the Philippines would fulfill its obligations with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) if it issues a Red Notice against Duterte."We do not cooperate with the ICC. That is the position of this government," the President said."As (Justice) Secretary (Jesus Crispin) Remulla explained before, we have obligations to Interpol and we have to live up to those obligations," he added. "We'll see how far it goes. We'll see what the ICC does."