QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would welcome the class suit against the government which some Marawi City residents are threatening to file citing as reason the devastation in the city due to the war against Islamist State – inspired terrorists.
President Duterte also took responsibility for legal, civil and criminal liabilities, saying he was the one who declared martial law in the Mindanao region, which will last until the end of the year.
“I declared martial law to answer the challenges of the moment and I take full legal, criminal, and civil liability,” the President said on Sunday before he left for his working visit to Japan.
“Ako ‘yun. I hold myself solely responsible for what happened, including the incidents there, the events that transpired. Sabi ko, ‘I take full responsibility for all,'” Duterte said.
Some Marawi residents reportedly threatened to file a class suit against the Philippine government, citing alleged human rights abuses and the devastation of the city because of the government troops’ actions against IS-inspired terrorists.
The President even challenged the Marawi critics to bring their complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I agree with you that if you have a gripe, and you think that justice should be done, and if they think that the Philippine courts would be prejudiced or biased, they can always go to the International Criminal Court,” Duterte said.