Matobato lawyer files complaint vs Duterte at ICC

HONG KONG/THE HAGUE — A Philippines lawyer filed a complaint against President Rodrigo R. Duterte and senior officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, accusing them of crimes against humanity in a nationwide anti-drugs crackdown.

Lawyer Jude Josue L. Sabio said in the 77-page complaint that Mr. Duterte “repeatedly, unchangingly and continuously” committed crimes against humanity and that under him, killing drug suspects and other criminals has become “best practice.”

Mr. Sabio serves as counsel for Edgar B. Matobato, who has testified in the Philippines Senate that he was part of a hit squad that operated on Mr. Duterte’s orders.

It is the first publicly known communication to the ICC against Mr. Duterte and is based on the testimony of Mr. Matobato and retired policeman Arturo B. Lascañas, statements from rights groups and media reports, including a Reuters series on the killings.

The complaint alleges that Mr. Duterte and at least 11 senior government officials are liable for murder and calls for an investigation, arrest warrants and a trial.

Lawmakers found no proof of Mr. Matobato’s Senate testimony, which the President’s aides have dismissed as fabrication.

Also on Monday, Chief Presidential Legal counsel Salvador S. B. Panelo branded the ICC complaint in Mr. Matobato’s behalf as “baseless, and not only that, I don’t think the international criminal court will have jurisdiction over it because if the crime charged is crimes against humanity, I do not think that the war against drugs, as well as criminals would fall under crimes against humanity.”

“Apparently, the intention is to black propaganda the (P)resident, hoping that media worldwide would catch on it and paint the (P)resident as a murderer when, in fact, he’s only doing his constitutional duty to protect and preserve this country,” Mr. Panelo also said.

Mr. Duterte has persistently denied he is involved with any death squad and said that his orders to kill drug suspects come with the caveat that police should operate within the bounds of the law.

COMPLAINT RECEIVED

Citing standard procedure, ICC spokesman Fadi el Abdallah declined comment on any possible communication filed. However, Reuters saw a copy of the complaint signed as received by the office of the ICC prosecutor.

Since it was set up in July 2002, the ICC has received over 12,0000 complaints or communications. Nine of these cases have gone to trial and six verdicts have been delivered.—