President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. no longer has to issue an order to speed up the investigation on drug war-related killings as "it is already a part of the justice system."
Press Secretary Trixi Cruz-Angeles stated this on Tuesday, Aug. 2 when asked whether the President has ordered a swifter investigation on the alleged crimes in the previous administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign after he declared that the country has no intention in rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is looking to reopen the drug war probe.
"Bahagi po ng ating proseso ang mabilis na paglilitis lalung lalo na doon sa mga kriminal na kaso. So, hindi na kailangan magbigay ng direktiba ang Pangulo, bahagi na po yun ng sistema ng hustiya (The swift proceedings on criminal cases is already part of our process. So, the President no longer have to give a directive, it is already part of our justice system)," Angeles said.
Asked what if the investigation would not progress swiftly, the Press Secretary said only the court can say whether or not the proceedings are moving within the proper time period.
Angeles also dodged a question on the administration's readiness on the political impact of Marcos' decision not to rejoin the ICC, saying "normally, we don't react to that."
She, however, reaffirmed the President's pronouncement despite it being labeled as "terrible mistake" by Lawyer Kristina Conti, co-counsel for the victims of drug war.
"Ang hindi natin pagbabalik sa ICC ay isyu ng soberanya . Hindi po, sa kasalukuyan, iniimbestigahan naman po ang mga reklamo ukol dun sa mga namamatay during the drug war kung kaya't hindi na nangangailangan pang tumugon sa ICC o bumalik ang ating bansa sa Rome Statue (The decision not to rejoin the ICC is an issue of sovereignty. No, at present, the complaints on the killings during the drug war are being investigated so responding or rejoining to the ICC is no longer needed)," Angeles said.
"So, naiintindihan natin na ang mga biktima ay may hinaing ngunit bukas po ang ating mga hukuman at ang proseso ng hustisya para sa kanilang hinaing (We understand the sentiments of the victims but the court and justice system is open for their complaints)," she added.
Marcos declared on Monday, Aug. 1, that the Philippines has no intention in rejoining the ICC. The country's membership in the international tribunal was canceled in 2018 by then president Rodrigo Duterte.