The social advocacy arm of the Catholic Church has called on the government to “reconsider” its decision not to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation of the deadly anti-drug war of the previous administration.

This developed as the Philippine National Police stated on Wednesday (February 7) that it will not arrest former President Rodrigo Duterte should it be requested by the ICC.

PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP is not in a position to enforce an arrest warrant because of a jurisdictional issue.

The Duterte camp, through former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, has claimed that it has received information that the ICC has already issued an arrest warrant for Duterte in connection with its investigation of crime against humanity against the former chief executive.

Duterte is being accused of involvement in the death of some 12,000 individuals who have been linked to illegal drugs by the police.

In a statement issued over the weekend, Caritas Philippines said the search for justice makes the Marcos government duty bound to allow the ICC to investigate the mass killings under the presidency of Duterte.

Caritas Executive Secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao Jr. said the probe “will allow the due process to run its course and ensure justice and truth will prevail.”

“The Senate and the House of Representatives should exert pressure and issue a resolution addressed to President Marcos allowing the ICC to resume its investigation,” Labiao said.

He stressed: “If the government has nothing to hide then it has nothing to fear.”

However, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has stressed that government is in no position to cooperate with the ICC since the country had already left the organization when it started investigating the alleged atrocities the Duterte administration committed.