Lawmakers split on ICC cooperation after Duterte drug war bombshell

Metro Manila, Philippines — Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are mixed on whether the government should cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bombshell on his bloody drug war.

In a Senate hearing, Duterte admitted ordering police officers to provoke drug suspects and kill them when they fight back. Cops widely used the narrative of “nanlaban,” which translates to “fought back,” to justify their drug war killings.

The former chief executive also said he has a death squad, but added it was a euphemism for the Davao police running after criminals.

In separate statements on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Makabayan bloc members pushed the government to cooperate with the ICC.

READ: House members want Duterte imprisoned for killing admission

“His confession about maintaining a death squad and encouraging extrajudicial killings demands full cooperation with the ICC because as it is, justice is still hard to come by in our country especially when one is dealing with the former president,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said.

“He is digging his own grave. Kumakapal ang ebidensyang pwedeng magamit sa mga kaso laban sa kanya sa International Criminal Court,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said.

[Translation: There is more evidence against him that may be used at the International Criminal Court.]

In a press briefing, two House quad committee chairmen, Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, said they preferred Duterte to face local courts.

The committee has been investigating Duterte’s drug war. The former president has repeatedly skipped the panel probe.

“Parang mas maganda na domestically na lang siya ma-prosecute para ‘pag halimbawa ang DOJ (Department of Justice) nagsabi na merong prima facie evidence na dapat siya ay ma-prosecute at chinarge ng court dito, ‘di na siya papatawan ng ICC sapagkat meron na ditong tinatawag na proper justicement na ginagawa ng ating bansa,” Abante said.

[Translation: I think it would be better if he will be prosecuted domestically so that for instance, the DOJ said they have prima facie evidence that he should be prosecuted and charged here, the ICC will not impose anymore because our country has proper justicement.]

“‘Yung [The] jurisdiction over this matter will be under the Philippine courts and establishing special courts can be done by the DOJ, according sa [to] RA (Republic Act) 9851 and all the international laws must be considered as well. Now, kung magpe-fail ang DOJ [if the DOJ fails] on doing their job on this matter, then the more ICC will take cognizance. I think it’s really up to the DOJ to do their work,” Fernandez said.

RA 9851 is the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

In a previous joint panel hearing, PCol Royina Garma (ret.) said Duterte wanted to implement the Davao drug war on a national scale, marked by a reward system for the killing drug suspects. Duterte has denied this.

The quad committee will hold its ninth drug war inquiry in November.