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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawyers' group urges ICC to lift suspension of probe on 'crimes against humanity' in PH

Lawyers' group urges ICC to lift suspension of probe on 'crimes against humanity' in PH

Published Nov 22, 2021 10:41 am

Free Legal Assistance Group

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been urged to lift the suspension of the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs.

The appeal was made by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) in a letter to ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan last Nov. 21.

“The Free Legal Assistance Group of the Philippines respectfully requests the Office of the Prosecutor to immediately lift the suspension of the investigation into the situation in the Philippines,” stated the letter which was signed by FLAG Chairman Jose Manuel I. Diokno.

Khan suspended the investigation after receiving a letter from Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Eduardo Malaya who sought a deferment of the proceedings since the Philippine government has already taken action, including the probe on the 52 cases reviewed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In its letter, FLAG reminded Khan on the Sept. 15, 2021 decision of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber which authorized “investigation into the crime against humanity of murder for killings committed in the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in connection with the ‘war on drugs’ and between 1 November 2011 and 30 June 2016 in Davao.”

FLAG said that the DOJ investigation “covers only a fraction of the killings or attempted killings which occurred within the scope of the ICC investigation.”

“Of the 52 cases allegedly investigated by the DOJ, only 36 occurred within 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019, and period covered by the ICC investigation,” it said.

“This figure is but 0.12% to 0.3% of the 12,000 to 30,000 persons killed during the period,” it added.

At the same time, FLAG lamented that the 52 cases do not include the killings that occurred in Davao from Nov. 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016.

“In FLAG’s view, it is misleading to label the DOJ actions as an ‘investigation’ since it appears that the DOJ merely conducted a review of the documents provided by the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police (IAS/PNP),” FLAG also said.

FLAG also said in its letter:

“The DOJ ‘investigation’ did not include any findings or conclusions, but mere ‘observations,’ largely on the lack--or paucity--of documents provided by the IAS/PNP. Witnesses or survivors were not interviewed, and family members did not participate in the DOJ ‘investigation,’ contrary to the requisites of the Minnesota Protocol.

“Even worse, not a single case was referred for prosecution. The DOJ promised through its press release, that it ‘referred the same to the National Bureau of Investigation. These cases are to undergo further investigation and case buildup for the possible filing of criminal charges against erring police officers.’

“But the DOJ did not make public any instructions, parameters, guidelines, or even a deadline for the so-called investigation and case buildup by the National Bureau of Investigation.”

Also, FLAG told Khan that the DOJ investigation “contravenes Philippine laws which require the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the DOJ to immediately cause the prosecution of erring police officers whenever a police officer invokes official duties as an excuse to kill a suspected criminal.”

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