The Philippine Congress is unlikely to invite ICC representatives to the drug war investigation

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, A reporter

PHILIPPINE lawmakers are less likely to invitefimembers of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to a conference investigating the drug war that killed former President Rodrigo R. Duterte as it may be a tacit acknowledgment of the country’s weak accountability mechanisms, according to political analysts and human rights lawyers.

“Due to the reluctance of many senators to investigate this matter in detail, the ICC was invitedficials may be more pressure to be accountable,” said Maria Ela L. Atienza, who teaches political science at the University of the Philippines, in a Viber message on Thursday. “It also provides more opportunity for families of drug war victims and human rights lawyers to be allies in the process.”

The Hague-based court is looking into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the drug war, in which thousands of suspects died. Both Houses of Congress are conducting separate investigations into Mr. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

At the Senate hearing on Monday, the tough-talking leader told members of the Senate thatff“no apologies, no excuses” for his battle with drugs.

“Given the nature of the ICC’s trial, I don’t think they will discuss their ongoing investigation,” said Ephraim B. Cortez, president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, in a statement sent to Viber. .

The Philippines under Mr Duterte withdrew from the ICC in March 2018 amid criticism that his government had systematically killed drug suspects in police raids. It started working a year later.

Senate Minerals leader Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel, who heads the Senate subcommittee looking into the previous government’s war on drugs, previously said another committee may invite ICC officials to the country.

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a colleague at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, said ICC representatives may be invited as observers, but they are unlikely to be helpful people when the conference is investigated.

“Unless there is a strong reason, such as the Marcos administration announcing that they will cooperate with the ICC investigation, it is difficult to see any ICC personnel being invited to be instrumental in the extrajudicial killings,” he said on Facebook Messenger. discuss. “Allowing them now would be seen as foreign interference and would put lawmakers in a very bad position.”

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. he denied that he would work with the ICC, citing the judicial system in place in the country.

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people died in Mr.

Mr. Duterte on Monday admitted that he ordered the policeficers in his hometown in Davao City when he was its mayor to attack criminals fihe went back during the raid on illegal drugs so that the police would have a reason to retaliate, adding that he has a team tasked to eradicate crime.

He also said that the former police chiefs were “killing scene managers” as they looked after criminal gangs, but denied that he ordered them to kill innocent people.

The Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday called for full accountability for extrajudicial killings under the drug war. In a statement, the organization said it wants to identify responsible officials and people as many important witnesses are coming to explain the events that affect the campaign.

“In light of the latest revelation, the CHR expresses great concern over the testimony of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who admitted that he ‘may suspect drug traffickers to be killed’ rather than allow them due process, and admitted to encouraging the law in the past to mock. the accused to answer for themselves,” he added.

Referring to its April 2022 report, the CHR highlighted a worrying trend among law enforcement officials who said victims refused to be arrested to justify the killings. This practice, he said, violates international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and undermines the Philippine Constitution’s guarantee of due process and the right to life.

“We hope that lawmakers can get ideas from the ICC prosecutor and the Judges separately, as they are independent of each other,” Maria Kristina C. Conti, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers in Metro Manila and a legal advisor to several victims. of the war on drugs, says the Viber message.

“The Senate would also do well to study the court records and the submissions of the Philippine government,” he added.