OSG confirms ICC's request to interview 5 former, incumbent PNP officials on 'killings' during past illegal drugs operations
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought the assistance of the Philippine government in the interview of five incumbent and former officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on their alleged involvement in the killings during the drug war of the past administration, Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said on Tuesday, July 30.
Guevarra said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) received this month of July the request from the ICC prosecutor.
He said: "The Philippines disengaged completely from the ICC in 2019. It has no legal duty to lend any assistance to the ICC prosecutor in conducting his investigation."
But, he pointed out that “the Philippine government cannot stop him (ICC prosecutor) from proceeding any way he wants.”
“He can directly interview persons of interest online, through the phone, by email, or face to face, subject to the consent of these persons,” he noted.
“But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him,” he stressed.
Guevarra said the OSG has already submitted its recommendations to President Marcos regarding the request of the ICC prosecutor. He declined to give the details.
Earlier, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that the five persons subject of the ICC request are Senator and former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, Romeo Caramat Jr., Eleazar Mata, and Edilberto Leonardo.
Trillanes' claim could not be confirmed as of posting.