MANILA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will issue a notice of withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), his spokesman said on Wednesday.

"I confirm that President Duterte has directed the Executive Secretary to give notice that (the Philippines is) withdrawing as a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC," Harry Roque said.

Roque's statement came a few minutes after Duterte's office issued a draft statement that indeed he has decided to withdraw from the ICC.

"I therefore declare and forthwith give notice, as the President of the Republic of the Philippines, that the Philippines is withdrawing its ratification of the Rome Statute effective immediately," Duterte said in the draft statement.