Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday, November 17 he might follow Russia's step to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing criticism from Western nations for a rash of killings unleashed by his war on drugs, Reuters reports.

In comments ahead of his departure for Lima to attend an Asia-Pacific summit, Duterte also railed against the United States and said that if Russia and China were to create a "new order" then the Philippines would be the first to join it.

Earlier, Russia said it is formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the ICC.

In recent months, three African countries who were all full members of the ICC – South Africa, Burundi and Gambia – have signalled their intention to pull out, following complaints that ICC prosecutions focused excessively on the African continent.