MANILA (Reuters) - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday his government would not block the International Criminal Court (ICC) if former leader Rodrigo Duterte wishes to be investigated over alleged crimes against humanity in his bloody anti-drugs crackdown.

The Philippine government says its law enforcement agencies will be obliged to cooperate if the International Criminal Court seeks the custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte as part of an investigation into thousands of deaths during his crackdown on illegal drugs.

The Philippines has said it will not intervene if Interpol issues a red notice to arrest the former president, Rodrigo Duterte, over his bloody “war on drugs”.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte urges the ICC to expedite investigation into alleged crimes during his war on drugs.

As the rift between the families of President Ferdinand Marcos and former president Rodrigo Duterte deepened, social media posts falsely claimed the archipelago nation's leader had appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to jail his predecessor.

President Bongbong Marcos reiterates that the Philippines would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court if it were to investigate the previous administration's anti-drug campaign.

While President Marcos reiterated that his administration will not cooperate with any International Criminal Court (ICC)-initiated investigation on former president Rodrigo Duterte, he stressed that the Philippines has to live up to its obligations to Interpol once the ICC seeks the latter's intervention.

Outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to his successor Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. after the departure honors for Duterte at the Malacañang Palace in Manila on June 30, 2022. Arman Baylon, Presidential Photo/File MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.