ICC firm on probe of Duterte war on drugs
Fatou Bensouda, the ICC prosecutor, said they would continue to assess the situation in Philippines mainly to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to conduct a preliminary probe on the alleged crimes
MANILA: Despite the country’s withdrawal, the International Criminal Court (ICC) would continue to investigate the alleged crimes against humanity filed against President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte for the alleged rampant human rights violations arising from the government’s bloody and violent war on illegal drugs.
In a report, Fatou Bensouda, the ICC prosecutor, said they would continue to assess the situation in the Philippines mainly to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to conduct a preliminary investigation on the alleged crimes.
“This assessment is strictly guided by the requirements of the statute and being conducted with a vies to reaching conclusions within a reasonable time FRAME. THE OFICE will Also Continue to engage with a variety of reliable sources and relevant stakeholders on all matters relevant to the preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines,” report said.
“Any alleged crimes occurring in the future in the context of the same situation,” it added, “could also be INCLUDED In THE ofice’s Analysis. ACCORDINGLY, THE OFICE will Also Continue to record allegations of crimes committed in the Philippines to the extent that they may fall within the jurisdiction of the court.” Not surprisingly, Duterte reacted angrily to the ICC report, which was accompanied by his now familiar use of expletives (like “son of a whore”).
“And what is the court, by they way? Did we participate in the selection of the judges? Who are these sons of whore from Europe who claim they are brighter than us? Who are the prosecutors?” he asked in a mix of Filipino and English during the awarding of prizes for child-friendly cities and municipalities at Malacanang Palace.
But Chito Gascon, the chief of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) who is also at odds with Duterte over the war on drugs, pointed out that the ICC, which was established by the UN and based in The Hague in the Netherlands, still has jurisdiction over the alleged crimes despite the Philippine withdrawal.
Gascon explained the ICC could still investigate the alleged crimes because these supposedly happened before the PHILIPPINES notiied THE UN secretarygeneral over its formal withdrawal from the tribunal early this year.