Philippine prosecutors should go after other officials involved in the bloody war on drugs, now that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest has set the precedence on how to hold those responsible accountable, a congresswoman said.

Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman says “local prosecutors” are there to handle those who are also involved in the deadly campaign.

"Yes, everybody who was involved in that war against drugs and the EJKs may have some degree of culpability, and what comes to mind right now is yung (the) command responsibility,” Roman said in a press conference on Tuesday, March 11.

A House quad-committee probe previously uncovered the involvement of key police officials, such as former Philippine National Police (PNP) colonel Royina Garma, in alleged abuses linked to the war on drugs.

While the International Criminal Court (ICC) primarily focuses on high-profile figures, Roman said local authorities have the responsibility to hold lower-ranking officials accountable.

She also said the arrest of Duterte should send a strong message to government officials that the rule of law must prevail.

“Aside from obtaining justice for the victims, parang statement din to sa buong mundo na kailangan mahalaga na panaigin ang mga batas sa lahat ng kaso,” she said.

‘Rejoin ICC’

Meanwhile, Roman urged the government to rejoin the ICC.

"I think it's about time bumalik tayo sa ICC at ipakita natin sa buong mundo na itong bansang ito ay gumagalang sa ating mga batas at sa mga international law (to rejoin ICC and show the world that our country respects the rule of law and the international law),” Roman said.

It was March 2018 when then-president Duterte ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.

“Wala pong masama doon mga kababayan. Ang batas ang ating tanging sandigan at proteksyon sa pang-aabuso, pati kaming nasa mga posisyon ng kapangyarihan (There’s nothing wrong with that. The law is our protection against abuse, even those of us in power),” she said.

Roman said the country’s return to the ICC would be consistent with President Marcos’ aspiration to uphold the rule of law “because he has nothing to hide".

“If this is a position that recognizes a rule-based order around the world, then let's walk the talk. Let's go back to the folds of the ICC,” she said.