President Rodrigo Duterte threatened on Thursday to arrest the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, who is probing his deadly drug war, telling her to stay away from the Philippines.
Fatou Bensouda launched a preliminary investigation in February into allegations that Filipino police were murdering thousands of drug suspects, prompting Manila last month to withdraw from the Hague-based tribunal.
“What is your authority nowIJ If we are not members of the treaty... You cannot exercise any proceedings here without basis,” Duterte told a news conference in his southern home city of Davao.
“That is illegal and I will arrest you,” he added, according to official transcripts.
Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 drug suspects during arrest. Rights groups claim the actual number is three times higher, accusing authorities of murder.