ICC to probe ‘crimes’ in Philippines, Venezuela

the hague — The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court on Thursday (ICC) launched initial probes into alleged crimes against humanity during the “war on drugs” in the Philippines and political upheaval in Venezuela.

“Since 2016, I have closely followed the situations” in both the Philippines and Venezuela, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

After “a careful, independent and impartial review... I have decided to open a preliminary examination into each situation.”

In the Philippines, her office would “analyse crimes allegedly committed... since at least 1 July 2016, in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ campaign” launched by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Specifically, it has been alleged that since 1 July 2016, thousands of persons have been killed for reasons related to their alleged involvement in illegal drug use or dealing,” Bensouda said.

Many were allegedly “extrajudicial killings” carried out during “police anti-drug operations.”

The ICC was opened in 2002 to prosecute the world’s worst crimes.

The Philippines probe will be its first preliminary examination in a Southeast Asian nation.

In Venezuela, Bensouda said her office would probe crimes allegedly committed during demonstrations and political unrest since April 2017 against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. “In particular, it has been alleged that state security forces frequently used excessive force to disperse and put down demonstrations, and arrested and detained thousands of actual or perceived members of the opposition,” she said. —

Since 2016, i have closely followed the situations in both the Philippines and Venezuela.” Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor