Palace position on ICC probe BBM’s call

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra will let President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. make a disclosure on the government’s position as regards the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.

The ICC had earlier asked the Philippine government to comment on the proposed reopening of the drug war investigation.

“The only agenda was the government’s position on the ICC investigation. But I’d rather leave it to the president to make any disclosure at this time,” said Guevarra in a text message.

He said PBBM called a meeting the other day to discuss the ICC case. Present were presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Department of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla and Guevarra. among others. The government’s position on the ICC investigation was the only official matter discussed,” Guevarra said.

To recall, the ICC has requested the Philippine government to comment on the proposed reopening of the court’s investigation of the drug war of former president, Rodrigo Duterte.

The reopening of the probe was proposed by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan last 24 June.

Also, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC asked drug war victims and their families for their comments on the matter.

The ICC, which issued the request on 14 July, is giving the country until 8 September to submit its additional observations.

ICC Judges Péter Kovács, Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and María del Socorro Flores Liera signed the request.

On the other hand, ICC gave Khan until 22 September to relay “factual arguments” from the Philippine government that it was already investigating or had investigated the alleged “criminal acts” that might be under ICC jurisdiction, as stated in the Rome Statute.

The chamber clarified, however, that it need not reply to any observations of the Philippines to the prosecutor’s “submissions on the applicable legal framework” as specified in the statute.

The victims were also asked for comments as their “personal interests” might be affected by the decision of the court on the prosecutor’s request to reopen the investigation.

The chamber instructed the Victims Participation and Reparations Section to get in touch with victims and their legal representatives to collect and prepare a report on “any additional or different views or concerns related” to the prosecutor’s request.

After the submission of the report, the ICC said that it would not be necessary to hold a hearing.

The ICC prosecutor suspended its investigation of the case in November 2021, in response to the Philippine government’s request.

As of 31 May, a total of 6,252 drug suspects were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations, according government statistics.