Guevarra says Philippines to focus on drug war probe, prosecution

Following the denial of the Philippines' appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Friday said the Philippines will focus on its own investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the controversial war on drugs.

“Instead, the Philippine government will focus on its own investigation and prosecution of crimes in relation to the drug war,” Guevarra said in a statement to the media.

On Tuesday, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the appeal of the Philippine government against the resumption of the ICC prosecutor’s investigation into the drug war.

The Chamber, however, said the decision was not on the country’s argument on jurisdiction.

Due to this, Guevarra said the country “has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigation.”

Guevarra had said that he had personally discussed the matter with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and agreed that the appeal is the end of the country’s engagement with the court.

“The ICC is free to proceed with its own investigation but it cannot expect any cooperation from the Philippine govt, as we continue to dispute its jurisdiction,” he said.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Guevarra said individuals who will be investigated by the ICC may also use the issue on the ICC’s jurisdiction as an argument. 

“Nabitin. Naka-hang yung issue na yun. Kaya ngayon, kapag nagpatuloy sila ng imbestigasyon, kahit sinong taong imbestigahan nila, ganon magiging dipensa. Bakit may jurisdiction ba kayo sa amin?” he said.

(The issue was left hanging. Now, if they would continue their investigation, if they would investigate against anyone, that would be the defense. Do they have jurisdiction over us?)

“Ganon ang mangyayari diyan. Kaya napasama pa ang ICC dahil hindi sila nag rule on jurisdiction,” he added.

(That’s what will happen there. That’s why it was bad for the ICC to not rule on the jurisdiction.)

Meanwhile, several government officials have also spoken against cooperating with the ICC, including Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who had advised former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to refrain from visiting countries that could be influenced by the ICC.

Duterte and Dela Rosa, the chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, were both mentioned in the ICC prosecutor’s report on the killings.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the Senate will not give up Dela Rosa unless there’s a local warrant for his arrest. Dela Rosa said he would also protect himself from arrest.

According to Dela Rosa, Duterte has just laughed off the prospect of the ICC continuing its investigation a few days before the appeal was rejected.

Under the drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records. Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000. —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News