A civic group hailed the approval by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of a formal probe into President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war and the Davao Death Squad killings.
"Civil society is heartened by the ICC's move to authorize the investigation on crimes against humanity committed by State actors in the Philippines. This gives hope to the families of victims that justice may yet prevail," Council for People's Development and Governance (CPDG) Spokesperson Liza Maza said.
The ICC is set to investigate the alleged crimes committed by the Duterte administration in the course of its War on Drugs.
Aside from the Duterte "drug war," the Hague-based tribunal said it will look into the alleged summary executions committed in Davao between 2011 and 2016.
"The authorization of the pre-trial is a landmark in our years of perseverance and push back against the Duterte administration's autocracy and repression. It is the direct result of victims' collective perseverance in seeking justice. We're all looking forward to holding the government accountable for its gross human rights violations, especially extrajudicial killings," Maza said.
CPDG also highlights the importance of a broad and collective unity to support the victims and their families in calling for the end of the government's War on Drugs, "war on terror and war on dissent" especially as violations against human rights "are escalating as the 2022 elections near."
"As the country remembers the declaration of Martial Law, it is imperative for people from all walks of life, creeds, and affiliations to come together and stand up for truth, justice, and peace, and to protest the current government's tyranny which echoes the dictatorship the people overthrew. If a past dictator was deposed through our collective efforts, then it is possible to prosecute another one," Maza ended.
In a statement, the ICC said the investigation will cover crimes allegedly committed between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 2019 "in the context of the so-called war on drugs campaign."