Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said that the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to authorize an inquiry on the Duterte administration's drug war is a step closer for its victims to attain justice.
Trillanes made the statement after a pre-trial chamber of the ICC green-lit the said probe, citing a "reasonable basis" to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed in the course of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
In a Facebook post, Trillanes, a staunch critic of the administration, said the ICC probe also meant that President Duterte's days of enjoying freedom are numbered.
"To the families of the EJK (extrajudicial killings) victims, this is another step closer to attaining justice for your loved ones," he said.
"To Duterte and his cohorts, this is another step closer to prison," he added.
President Duterte seemed unbothered by the impending full inquiry on his drug war as he had no comment on the development.
In his press briefing on Thursday, September 16, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the ICC probe will not bear fruit. Even Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the country will not cooperate with the proceedings.
"Matutulog lang po ang kaso lalo kung hindi magko-cooperate ang pulisya. In the absence of cooperation, wala pong ebidensyang mahahanap (This will become a cold case especially if the police won't cooperate. In the absence of cooperation, they won't be able to find any evidence)," Roque said.
Panelo reiterated that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Philippines, especially since the country withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. He said the Rome Statue failed to comply with the publication requirement.
He likewise thought the ICC is being utilized as a political and propaganda apparatus by those who will do anything to dethrone Duterte from his seat.
"While we expect that more theatrics will be employed by the detractors of the President as election season draws near, this blatant and brazen interference and assault on our sovereignty as an independent country by the ICC is condemnable," he said.