Published November 25, 2023
MANILA, Philippines – The tide seems to be turning with more non-opposition lawmakers calling on the Philippine government to help the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s investigation into Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and alleged death squad.
The resolution, filed by Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante and 1-Rider Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez on November 20, urged agencies “to extend their full cooperation to the ICC Prosecutor with respect to its investigation of any alleged crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC.”
These recent ICC pushes from the lower house are happening against the backdrop of alleged cracks in the alliance between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. When once upon a time Marcos’ justice secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla took hardline positions, saying the ICC threatens Philippine sovereignty, he now says ICC cooperation needs “serious study.”
While the ICC operates on its own “on an entirely different plane,” according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) senior Asia researcher Carlos Conde, domestic support would mean a boost – for one, investigators will have better access to evidence here, and if it ever comes to a summons or a warrant, the court can count on Philippine authorities to enforce it.
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SOURCE: www.rappler.com
RELATED: Philippines’ Marcos Opposes International Criminal Court Probe Into Duterte’s Drug War
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and his successor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., right, in Davao City on June 19, 2022Ezra Acayan—Getty Images
Published November 24, 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stood by his position against an international probe on former leader Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, underlining his efforts to keep the ruling alliance intact.
“It’s not right for outsiders to tell us who to investigate, who the police will arrest or detain,” Marcos told reporters Friday. He was reacting to a proposal in the House of Representatives for the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation on Duterte’s anti-drug campaign that killed thousands.
Marcos earlier this week tamped down speculation on cracks within the alliance that helped him and Vice President Sara Duterte secure landslide wins in last year’s elections. In the past months, however, the vice president has been distancing herself from Marcos’s cousin and key ally, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The vice president and former leader’s daughter said in a statement Thursday that allowing the international court to probe her father is “patently unconstitutional” and “degrades our legal institutions.”
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SOURCE: www.time.com
RELATED:?’Don’t embarrass our justice system:’ Sara speaks up for father as House discusses ICC drug war probe
Published November 23, 2023
MANILA, Philippines — Slighting from recent House calls urging cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Vice President Sara Duterte has spoken up in defense of her father and argued that local courts can resolve drug war cases without the help of the ICC.
Duterte on Thursday issued for the first-time a strongly-worded statement criticizing the ICC’s decision to resume its investigation of the alleged crimes against humanity committed during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s terms as president, and earlier, mayor of Davao City.
This comes after the House on Wednesday started deliberating at least two resolutions calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to welcome the ICC’s probe into the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the elder Duterte, who earlier called the lower chamber the “most rotten institution” after it stripped Sara of P650 million in confidential funds.
Marcos, who insisted on shutting out the ICC, has yet to change his position even as family and lawyers of victims of extrajudicial killings believe the ICC’s intervention will provide the “fairest and most just opportunity for justice” for their killed loved ones.
In her statement, Sara said that the lower chamber must “respect” Marcos’ previous stance of not supporting ICC’s probe.
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SOURCE: www.Philstar.com
