The Philippines will respond favourably if Interpol is asked by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants related to its probe into the former president's bloody "war on drugs", a top official said on Friday.

The Philippines will “respond favorably or positively” to a possible request from the Interpol to arrest personalities facing trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the deaths of thousands in the so-called war on drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The Palace has made it clear that the Philippines is more likely to respond to requests from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) rather than the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Philippines has signalled a softened stance towards an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into thousands of killings in a "war on drugs", a probe activists hope will see popular ex-president Rodrigo Duterte face charges of crimes against humanity.