EJK victims' ma cried tears of joy over ICC ruling

From the over 200 pictures of the drug war victims of the Duterte administration that the group Rise Up has gathered, two were children of Llore Pasco, according to a "24 Oras" report by Saleema Refran and Jun Veneracion.

Pasco recalled what happened to her children. 

"Parang higit disisiete bawat isa talagang inano sila tinadtad ... ganoon lang sila pinaslang parang hayop, manok, mga aso lang," she said.

Thus, the International Criminal Court decision to pursue the investigation on the extrajudicial killings came as a relief. 

Pasco said she could not explain how she felt after watching the ICC's livestream proceedings that thumbed down the appeal of the administration to permanently halt the investigation on the drug war deaths.

"Kagabi konti nga lang ang tulog ko kasi parang ramdam ko pa...naiiyak dahil sa saya, sa tuwa na nararamdaman mo na six years na sila eh," she said.

Based on government records, the war on drugs has killed at least 6,200 suspects in police operations. Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra had said that the Philippines could no longer file an appeal with this decision. 

Guevarra said the ICC could also indict certain individuals over killings in the drug war if there is sufficient evidence.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, said the country would not comply if the ICC issued an arrest warrant against individuals over killings in the drug war. 

Meanwhile, an international law expert, Professor Michael Tiu Jr., said the ICC is still gathering evidence. 

“May risk lagi halimbawa 'yung akusado na kapag lalabas siya ng bansa at nandun siya sa isang estado na nakikipag-cooperate sa ICC ay pwede siyang maaresto, magiging limitado talaga ang galaw nung taong may warrant of arrest,” Tiu said.

The Commission on Human Rights said the current administration should consider this a chance to prove its commitment to ensure accountability for human rights violations.

“CHR encourage the government to view this decision as an opportunity to give better meaning to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to ensure a high level of accountability for human rights violations,” CHR said.

Timeline 

Former President Rodrigo Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2019 after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his administration’s drug war, followed by the launch of a formal inquiry later that year.

The probe was suspended in November 2021 after the Philippine government said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen, and vigilantes. 

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had asked to restart the inquiry, saying the Philippine government had not provided evidence it was carrying out thorough inquiries. 

The ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry in January 2023.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News