Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 22) — More lawmakers in the lower chamber have called on the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Three resolutions have been filed so far by Reps. France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Raoul Daniel Manuel, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, and Edcel Lagman.
Lagman’s House Resolution No. 1482 urges the current administration to provide its “full cooperation” to the ICC prosecutor investigating alleged crimes within the jurisdiction of the body related to the Philippines’ so-called “war on drugs.”
In July, the ICC said it would continue its investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign after it rejected the Marcos administration’s petition against the probe’s resumption.
READ: ICC to continue probe into Duterte’s drug war; court chamber junks PH appeal
Previous government data showed the extra-judicial killings claimed more than 6,000 lives, but local and foreign human rights groups said the number could be between 12,000 and 30,000.
Following the ICC’s decision, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippine government had no plans to continue its dealings with the ICC.
“[W]e will not cooperate with them in any way… or form. So, we continue to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines and continue to question the jurisdiction of the ICC in their investigations here in the Philippines,” Marcos said in July.
Marcos’ running mate in last year’s polls, Vice President Sara Duterte, is the daughter of the former chief executive.
Sen. Marcos: Supporting ICC probe will be a ‘shame’
Senator Imee Marcos rejected calls to work with the ICC as she reiterated her support for Duterte.
She said the country should be “ashamed” to let foreign courts intervene when the justice system is working.
“Ang laking kahihiyan talaga ‘pag pumasok ‘yang ICC sa Pilipinas. ‘Wag tayong papayag nang ganyan,” she said.
[Translation: It would really be a big shame for the Philippines if the ICC comes in. Let us not allow them to treat us like that.]
“Isipin mo, para nating sinurrender ang ating soberanya. Hindi na tayo republika; talagang umaasa na lang tayo sa kanila,” she added. “Pinalaya nga si (dating) Senator (Leila) de Lima, eh. Hindi ba katibayan ‘yun na maayos ang korte at talagang umaandar ang hudikatura?”
[Translation: Come to think of it — it’s like surrendering our sovereignty. We’re no longer a republic; we’re just relying on them. Former senator Leila de Lima was even freed. Isn’t that proof that our courts are doing their job and the judiciary is working?]
CNN Philippines Correspondent Currie Cator contributed to this report.
