An internationally recognized rights advocacy group on Thursday, Sept. 16 welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow the Office of the Prosecutor to proceed with formally investigating the alleged crimes committed under the Duterte administration’s controversial war on illegal drugs.
According to the grassroots movement iDEFEND, the endorsement of the ICC chamber “removes all doubt as to the gravity of the crimes committed by President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign”.
“Duterte along with his co-accused henchmen of the war on drugs will be facing justice, and the relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings and other atrocious human rights violations would have a real chance of regaining their dignity,” the group said in a statement.
iDEFEND cited the support of more than 200 victims and their representatives upon the request of the then ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
“iDEFEND welcomes the decision of the pre-trial chamber and fully supports all efforts of the prosecutor to build its case against duterte. At this point it is in the best interest of the government to fully cooperate with the ICC, to avoid any perception that it is shielding a criminal from international justice,” the group said.
In the same statement, the Philippine-based rights group claimed that Duterte’s war on drugs and war on terror has now allegedly resulted in “more killings” amid a global pandemic, with no sign of relenting.
“Not only will government refuse to cooperate with the ICC, it goes full steam ahead with its gruesome campaign of killing,” it said.