House panels adopt resolutions backing ICC drug war probe

The House Committees on Justice and on Human Rights on Wednesday unanimously adopted three resolutions calling on the Philippine government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on the Duterte administration's war on drugs. 

The two committees adopted the resolutions after around four hours of deliberation, with Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra conceding that the ultimate decision of cooperating with the ICC rests with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Guevarra, however, maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction to probe the Philippines' war on drugs since its pre-trial chamber only allowed it after the country withdrew from the ICC in March 2019. 

"We have no legal duty to cooperate, but ICC investigators are free to come and do their job here," Guevarra told the House panels. 

Marcos earlier said returning under the fold of the ICC is "under study," even as he maintained that there are "problems" with regards to the its jurisdiction.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has also said that the Philippines' possible return to the ICC required “serious” study.

In 2019, the Philippines, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his administration’s drug war, followed by the launch of a formal inquiry later that year.

In 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) said the Philippines had to cooperate with the ICC despite its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

CHR willing to cooperate

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Faydah Dumarpa, during Wednesday's deliberation, said the CHR stands ready to provide assistance to the ICC investigators. 

"Your honor, the commission is more than willing to coordinate if the ICC so deems that they need our cooperation. We are an independent constitutionally created commission for the promotion and protection of human rights," she said.

"Therefore, we may and we'll be happy to cooperate if the ICC deems fit that they need assistance from the CHR," she added.

Police Brigadier General Rodolfo Castil, deputy director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said the police organization will also defer to the President's decision. 

"We are of the humble view that the PNP will just submit to the position of the President as head of the executive department to which PNP is under, and also with the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government)," Castil said.

"If we will be required to submit a petition paper, we will do so," he added.

At the Senate, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a similar petition earlier this week. —KBK, GMA Integrated News