German envoy wants Marcos admin to review ICC decision on drug war probe

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) — The German envoy to the Philippines on Wednesday said he wants the Marcos administration to review the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to look into former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody "war on drugs."

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Final Word, Ambassador Michael Pfaffernoshke said Germany was not satisfied with the Philippine government's move to cut all its ties with the ICC.

"We would very much encourage closer cooperation with the ICC," he said. "I would invite the Marcos administration to review this decision that they have taken."

On July 18, the ICC decided to continue the investigation after the Appeals Chamber of the court rejected the plea of the Philippine government against the resumption of the probe into Duterte's drug war that has killed thousands.

READ: ICC to continue probe into Duterte's drug war; court chamber junks PH appeal

Pfaffernoshke, meanwhile, emphasized that Germany is an enthusiastic defender of international law such as the ICC and they would be glad to see the Philippines working closely with the international court.

The probe which the ICC authorized covers crimes allegedly committed between November 2011 and March 2019. Duterte was elected president in 2016.

The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute.