The Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's pronouncement on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of Duterte’s war on drugs gives thousands of drug war victims in the previous administration hope that real justice could finally come, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.
"Kung magkaroon man ng pag-uusap sa pagitan ng ating gobyerno at ng ICC, makita sana ng gobyerno na kailangan nitong tumulong sa imbestigasyon (If there is ever a discussion between our government and the ICC, I hope the government realizes that it needs to assist in the investigation)," Hontiveros said in a statement on Friday, January 24.
"‘Di lang dahil sa treaty obligations natin, kundi lalo na para sa mga pamilya nina Kian delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman, at iba pang mga pamilya na matagal nang dumadaing ng hustisya (Not only because of our treaty obligations, but especially for the families of Kian delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Reynaldo ‘Kulot’ de Guzman, and other families who have long been crying for justice)," she added.
She made the remark in reaction to a Reuters report wherein Remulla said that they "will talk to them [ICC] soon in a very well-defined manner, in the spirit of comity. Some people are trying to bridge the divide to bring us together, so we can sit at one table."
This marks a shift in the administration's previous stance which ha been firm that the Philippines has no intention to rejoin the ICC.
In statements last year, President Marcos has stood by his constant pronouncement that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines and that its move to investigate the killings related to the massive war on drugs is an "interference" in the country's sovereignty.
It was March 2018 when then-president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.
This, after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she would start a preliminary examination against him in connection with complaints on the bloody war against drugs.
In the previous year as well, the the House of Representatives deliberated House Resolution (HR) Nos. 1393 and 1477, which both seek the Philippine government's cooperation with the ICC pertaining to the investigation of then-president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with complaints regarding his bloody war on drugs. Of the two, HR No.1393 specified that the investigation was in connection with the alleged crime against humanity committed during the previous Duterte administration.
Last Oct. 28, Duterte attended the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's first hearing on his administration's bloody anti-narcotics campaign. This campaign began in 2016, when incumbent Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Risa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief. There, Duterte said that he accepts responsibility for what took place in the war on drugs.
The ICC has been looking into allegations of crimes against humanity committed in connection with the drug war.
In November, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel urged the President to consider rejoining the ICC that would act as an "insurance policy" against potential abuses by a leader and, if the justice system fails.