Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) will investigate a House resolution that calls on the Marcos administration to participate in the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war, according to Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“Kinakailangan humingi kami ng transmittal sa Kongreso, tungkol sa mga usapin dito, sa mga detalyeng nangyayari, at sa kung anong nangyari sa komite bago ito lumabas,” Remulla said in a briefing on Wednesday.[Translation: We need to get a transmittal from Congress, about the issues, the details, and what happened in the committee before it comes out.]
Remulla was referring to House Resolution 1393 filed last week by the Makabayan bloc, urging the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the ICC.
The bloc underscored that it is imperative for the government to allow the ICC especially after former president Rodrigo Durterte admitted he used intelligence funds to bankroll extrajudicial killings in Davao City when he was mayor.
In 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) said “withdrawing from the Rome Statute does not discharge a state party from the obligations it has incurred as a member.”“Even if it has deposited the instrument of withdrawal, it shall not be discharged from any criminal proceedings,” the SC pointed out. “Whatever process was already initiated before the International Criminal Court obliges the state party to cooperate.”The government is adamant that since the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2019, the court could no longer exercise jurisdiction over the country, even over crimes allegedly occurring when the country was still a state party to the treaty.Remulla stressed that the government’s stance still stands.“Wala namang pagbabago sapagkat kailangan lang pag-aralan talaga ang bagay na ito sapagkat international law ang pumapasok dito,” he said. “Kailangan maingat tayo. Kung may sistema ng hustisya na umaandar, bakit ipapaabuya pa natin sa iba?”[Translation: Nothing has changed because this matter needs to be studied as it involves international law. We have to be careful. If we have a justice system that works, why should we allow others to interfere?]Marcos earlier said the country will no longer engage with the ICC – after the ICC denied the government’s appeal to stop the drug war investigation.When asked if the government’s position would change, Remulla said it could not be ruled out.“Hindi naman natin pwedeng sabihin na walang tsantsa sapagkat maaaring magbago ang batas,” the DOJ chief said.[Translation: We cannot say that there is no chance because the law can change.]According to government records, at least 6,200 suspects were slain in police operations throughout the drug war.
Human rights groups, on the other hand, claim that the real death toll could range between 12,000 and 30,000.
