A video on YouTube is claiming that the Philippine government has banned officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) from entering the country amid the ongoing probe into the war on illegal drugs under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This is false.
While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said he does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, there has been no government directive or local court order barring the entry of court investigators into the country.
On Feb. 19, the incorrect video bore this clickbait headline:
“KAKAPASOK LANG GoodNews Malacañang! Nagkausap nasi PBBM FPrrd VpSara Nagka-isa ICC Bawal nasa Pinas!
(Just in, good news [in] Malacañang! President Ferdinand Marcos, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte joined forces, ICC not allowed in the Philippines!)”
At around the 4:30-mark of the 20-minute video, the following text also appeared:
“PBBM BAWAL NASA (sic) PINAS ICC PINALAYAS NA? (President Marcos: ‘ICC is not allowed in the Philippines’ Kicked out?”)
The content of the video does not support its claim. Part of the video showed a clip of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointing out that Marcos and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla flip-flopped on the issue of letting ICC probers enter the country.
There are no orders from Marcos to block ICC officials from entering the country. Earlier, the president himself said ICC representatives, as ordinary people, “can come and visit the Philippines” but insisted that the government, which does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction, will not assist them in any way.
He reiterated his stand this week and told journalists he will not allow the ICC to conduct a probe in the country when asked to comment on the results of a recent poll showing that more Fillipinos favor the government’s cooperation with the ICC.
.Last December, the Bureau of Immigration also clarified that ICC investigators are free to enter the country, unless “there’s a court order or they are ordered blacklisted for being undesirable aliens.”
This video with a false claim emerged after a recent survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations showed that 56% of Filipinos agree that the government should cooperate with the ICC to investigate Duterte’s drug war.
The video was published by YouTube channel PINAS NEWS INSIDER (created on Dec. 26, 2015), garnering over 70,000 views and 1,500 interactions.
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