DRUG WAR | ICC seeks comments from government, victims on requested resumption of probe

July 18, 2022 , 11:22 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(July 18, 2022) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked the government of the Philippines and the victims of the brutal drug war to submit their comments on the requested resumption of the investigation into the cruel policy.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan wants to proceed with the probe after he pointed out that the local investigation has not been sufficient. Both parties are required to submit their comments until September 8.

“The Chamber considers it appropriate to invite the Philippines to submit any additional observations arising from the prosecutor’s request,” said the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I in an order dated July 14.

Last month, Khan made the official request to resume the investigation as he saw no merit in the deferral request filed by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte last November.

Eduardo Malaya, the country’s ambassador to the Netherlands, where the ICC is located, insisted that the government was investigating those who commit crimes related to the bloody drug war, citing the review conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), It, however, had a limited scope of only over 50 cases.

“Committed to the rule of law and with the highest regard to due process, the government has undertaken and continues to undertake thorough investigations of all reported deaths during antinarcotics operations in the country,” said Malaya.

But the Human Rights Watch (HRW) described the move as a mere delaying tactic to prolong the probe, noting that the claims raised were ridiculous.

Around 30,000 people have died from the gruesome drug war, according to human rights groups. Duterte urged his successor, President Bongbong Marcos Jr., to continue what he started. Marcos, the son of the late dictator, intends to push for a tweaked version of it.

Last year, a report by the ICC Registry noted that around 94% of victims support the decision of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) to open a full-blown investigation into the ruthless drug war, which has also been widely criticized as being “anti-poor.”

“They also bring forward the victims’ views and concerns on the OTP request and on other related matters, including justice, the ICC, the potential scope of an investigation and the impact of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ has on the victims’ lives and their society,” said the ICC.

Victims can submit their comments to the Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS). In turn, the VPRS shall collate and organize the concerns through a report to be submitted until September 22.

Marcos has been urged by human rights advocates to bring the Philippines back to the ICC but he has yet to discuss it.

“The Chamber, therefore, instructs the VPRS to liaise with victims and their legal representatives, if any, to collect any additional or different views or concerns related to the prosecutor’s request and to prepare a short report summarizing those views and concerns,” read the order.

(PM)

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