DOJ to submit drug war case update to ICC ‘out of comity’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it will submit a case update to the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs “comity.”

In Maki Pulido’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that they will provide the international tribunal a case update out of “friendship and respect.”

“We are doing everything as a matter of comity. Friendship and respect among nations and multilateral agencies. We are not submitting anything as a matter of compliance,” Remulla said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

The ICC gave the Philippines until September 8 to provide any observations on the planned reopening of the probe.

This comes after ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan requested to resume the investigation into the war on drugs that was carried out under the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

The prosecutor said the Philippine government was unable to demonstrate that it investigated or was looking into nationals or others connected with the series of killings linked to the drug war.

Since Duterte assumed office in June 2016, government records indicate that over 6,000 supposed drug suspects have been killed in police operations.

However, several human rights groups said the actual death toll could be as high as 12,000 to 30,000.

The ICC suspended its investigation in November 2021 in response to the Philippine government’s request to defer its investigation. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News