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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM asked 'to cease, desist dilatory attempts' against ICC's investigation

PBBM asked 'to cease, desist dilatory attempts' against ICC's investigation

Published Jan 29, 2023 12:05 pm

CenterLaw

A lawyers’ group has asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “cease and desist from the dilatory attempts against the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation” into the killings during the illegal drugs operations conducted by the past administration.

In its statement, the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) was apparently referring to the pronouncement of Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra that the Philippine government will appeal the decision of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) 1 that authorized the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) to resume the investigation.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, on the other hand, had said he will not welcome the ICC to the Philippines to conduct an investigation.

“Definitely I do not welcome this move of theirs and I will not welcome them to the Philippines unless they make clear that they will respect us in this regard,” Remulla said.

CenterLaw said that “as a member of the international community, and pursuant to Article 127 of the Rome Statute, it is in the interest of not only the victims but our country for the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation.”

It pointed out that “the legal representatives of 293 individuals and 366 families of victims of the war on drugs have expressed their collective call for justice before the ICC).”

“These pleas have not fallen on deaf ears,” it stressed.

The Philippines has been a state party since Nov. 1, 2011 of the Rome Statute that created the ICC.

However, the Philippines deposited on March 17, 2018, upon the instruction of then President Rodrigo R. Duterte, a written notification to the ICC that declared the country’s withdrawal from the tribunal.

While the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect on March 17, 2019, the ICC, in a statement, maintained that “the Court retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party.”

In its announcement last Thursday, Jan. 26, the ICC said the “Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC-PTC) granted the Prosecutor's request to resume investigation into the Situation of the Republic of the Philippines.”

Set for investigation are the killings during the illegal drugs operations conducted from Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.

The probe was deferred in November 2021 on request of the Philippine government.

The OTP on June 24, 2022 requested the chamber to resume the investigation. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan sought the resumption of the investigation as he claimed that the Philippines under President Marcos Jr. had not provide evidence it was carrying out thorough inquiries.

TAGS: #CenterLaw #ICC #PBBM #Illegal Drugs probe

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