NUPL: With call for witnesses, ICC probe on drug war killings nears end

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals for witnesses, the lawyers of the extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims during the controversial drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte believe the probe is nearing its end.

“Itong paghahanap ng witnesses parang last call ito, sino pang pwedeng mag-volunteer ng impormasyon, eh pwedeng ngayon na lumapit bago magsimula ang trial”, lawyer Kristina Conti of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and ICC assistant to counsel said in Maki Pulido’s report in 24 Oras on Monday.

(The appeal for witnesses is like a last call to anyone who wants to volunteer in giving any information before the trial starts.)

“Talagang paghahanda na sa trial ito at nangangamoy ending na ng investigation,” she added.

(This is like already a preparation for the trial and I can sense that the investigation will end soon.)

In its appeal for witnesses, the ICC said it is looking for individuals who have knowledge of crimes committed during the anti-illegal drugs campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, which killed thousands in operations.

Among those being sought by the court are members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and local government officials.

The NUPL added that the PNP should provide immunity to its personnel who want to testify.

“Kung sabihin ni General Marbil na lahat ng makakasuhan will come with some form of immunity, that could work especially [for] those who would admit to unsolved killings,” said Conti.

(If General Marbil said that anyone who will be charged will given with some form of immunity, that could work especially for those who would admit to unsolved killings.)

But the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will not encourage the PNP to testify before the ICC, but it will also not stop them from doing so.

“We are not members of the ICC. We cannot cooperate directly…but if they voluntarily come out, we will not stop them. There is no gag order in place… so it’s to their own volition, to their own conscience,” said Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Likewise, PDEA also shared the same sentiment.

“Hindi kami haharang, pero hindi kami tututol,” said PDEA public information chief Lawin Gavales.

(We will not hinder them, but we will not stop them from doing that.)

Before the trial, the ICC will name the personalities involved in the drug war killings based on its investigation. But only the sole individual responsible for everything will be charged.

GMA Integrated News reached out to the Duterte camp for comment.

Meanwhile, the family of the victims welcomed the development.

“Mabuti nga siya mayroon pa siyang pagkakataon para ipagtanggol kanyang sarili, samantalang 'yung aming mga mahal sa buhay, wala eh,” said Loore Pasco, mother of two EJK victims, as she lamented against the former president.

(Lucky for him that he still has a chance to save himself, but our loved ones didn’t have the chance to do that.)

Duterte earlier revealed before a Senate panel that he ordered cops to induce drug suspects to fight back so they can justify killing them.

Government records show that there were at least 6,200 drug suspects killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021, but several human rights groups have refuted this and say that the number may have reached as much as 30,000 due to unreported related killings.

Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the Hague-based ICC's Rome Statute in 2018, with the withdrawal taking effect in 2019, after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his administration's drug war. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News