MANILA, Feb. 13 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he is not threatened by the complaints lodged against him before the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying that he is willing to be indicted and convicted if it means protecting the interest of the Filipino people.

"Do not worry about me. I can face the ICC. If they want to indict me and convict me, fine. I will gladly do it for my country," Duterte said in a speech at the Malacanang presidential palace.

Duterte's statement came in the wake of the ICC's action to launch a preliminary examination on Duterte's anti-drug campaign amid allegations that police resorted to extrajudicial means to kill drug suspects.

However, Duterte said he would only be loyal to the people and the flag where he swore allegiance to after getting elected as the president in 2024.

Duterte said on Monday that the ICC move will not stop him from contriving his war on drugs. "The war or the drive against drugs will not stop and it will last until the day I step out," Duterte said in a speech in the central Philippine city of Cebu.