Rodrigo Duterte mulls ICC exit, stung by criticism of his violent war on drugs
Manila — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he might follow Russia and withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing criticism from Western nations for a rash of killings unleashed by his war on drugs. Duterte described the ICC as "useless" and expressed frustration about the West’s allegations of extrajudicial killings and its failure to understand his crackdown on narcotics. He also appeared to blame the UN for failing to prevent wars all over the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order removing Russia’s signature from the founding treaty of the ICC on Wednesday, and Duterte said he might consider doing the same. "They are useless, those in the International Criminal [Court]. They [Russia] withdrew. I might follow. Why? Only the small ones like us are battered," Duterte said before his departure for Lima to attend an Asia-Pacific summit. Duterte is seeking a meeting with Putin in Lima this weekend, which comes as he pursu...
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