DFA says consultation on ICC probe ongoing

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is consulting with government lawyers on the issue of allowing International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators to look into the thousands of alleged drug killings under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Asked in a news conference Thursday whether the new administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would allow the ICC into the country, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said:  “In view of the government transition, the DFA is in the process of coordinating with lead agencies, such as the DOJ and OSG on this matter.”

Daza was referring to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General, which advise the President and the administration on legal issues.
The ICC has been investigating the allegations of extrajudicial killings in the anti-illegal drugs campaign of Duterte.

In November, the ICC suspended its probe on the killings as a possible crime against humanity after Duterte’s administration said it has launched its own probe of police behind the killings. However, the ICC chief prosecutor recently asked the court to immediately resume the investigation.

A court of last resort, the ICC, created in 1998, investigates atrocities against humanity in countries unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes.

After the The Hague-based court launched a preliminary investigation on Duterte’s drug war, the former president withdrew its ratification of the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.

Philippine officials have been saying that the government opposes extrajudicial killings and would prosecute law enforcers committing such crimes.

“The Philippine government affirms its commitment to fight impunity, atrocities and crimes notwithstanding the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute,” Daza said.

“The Philippines also has a national legislation punishing atrocities. The Philippines underscores that it has a primary jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the crime against humanity allegedly being committed in the context of anti-illegal drugs campaign.”

Daza also pointed out that the ICC “complements but does not replace national courts.”

“It only operates when national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to prosecute,” she said.—LDF, GMA News