Rights groups and witnesses to the International People’s Tribunal show proof that the ICC received the IPT ruling. Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The International Criminal Court (ICC) can still prosecute President Rodrigo Duterte even if the withdrawal of the Philippines becomes final.

Mark Dillon, head of Information & Evidence Unit of ICC's Office of the Prosecutor, reaffirmed this to the convenors of the International People's Tribunal (IPT), according to Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes and IPT spokesperson Peter Murphy.

Reyes and Murphy were among those who officially handed the IPT's decision indicting Duterte of gross human rights violations to ICC last Friday.

“It was affirmed to us, today, that the withdrawal from the ICC has no bearing on the ongoing proceedings before the prosecutor because the proceedings were commenced before the withdrawal," Reyes said.

"So whatever Duterte announced no longer has any effect on the ongoing preliminary examination."

Reyes said the documents were duly received by the ICC and they’re hoping that the preliminary examination will lead to a formal investigation and that the documents they submitted will help understand the situation in the Philippines.

“The communication will be duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court," the written acknowledgment signed by Dillon stated.

"Please note that this acknowledgment letter does not mean an investigation has been opened nor an investigation will be opened by the Office of the Prosecutor. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”

The ICC earlier said the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which established the international court, will not affect its preliminary examination into crimes allegedly committed under Duterte's drug war.

The IPT 2018 is a global court being convened by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, IBON International, and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).