‘WHY PICK ON ME?’
But it’s not an investigation yet and alleged offenses may not be proved or they may not be under jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Or, as the president threatens, he might just pull out this country from the roster of state parties to the Rome Stature (123 as of October 2017).
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte welcomes the announced “investigation” of Duterte in connection with killings in the country -- the death of at least 2,900 people in police operations since July 2017 -- by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Palace has minimized the threat. After all, as ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensad clarifies, it’s not an investigation. It’s a review of communications and complaints from Filipinos, mostly Duterte critics. A “process” and not an investigation, says the ICC official.
Yet Duterte complains about being singled out by ICC. In effect, he says there are other country leaders who may be asked to account for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression within the jurisdiction. “Why me?”
WAYS OUT
Maybe because he used to trumpet the killings against drug traffickers and badmouth critics, including the ICC, European Union and then U.S. president Barack Obama.
Besides, ICC may find the killings (a) could be justified under Philippine law on selfdefense and defense of others, (b) do not constitute as a crime within the ICC’s jurisdiction, or (c) there’s lack of evidence.
Proving EJKs wouldn’t be easy as records and witnesses are controlled by the government and the administration hasn’t been exactly cooperating with the “process.” Or it can pull out from the ICC if that would make the charges go away.