MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) should permit the Philippines to conduct its own investigation into the violent “war on drugs” that occurred during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra emphasized that the ICC ought to assist the Philippine government in its investigation rather than the reverse.
“Ang sinasabi lang ng Philippine government ay huwag ninyo na kaming isama pa diyan, huwag ninyo na kaming isahan pang tumulong sa imbestigasyon ninyo kasi kami ay nag-iimbestiga on our own,” Guevarra said.
“Kung gusto ninyo, ito ngang posisyon ko ha, kung gusto ninyo na makatulong, kayo ang sumuporta sa investigation ng Philippine government, hindi kami ang tutulong sa inyo,” he added.
“Baligtarin natin, kayong ICC kung ano ang mayroon kayo, ibigay ninyo sa Philippine government para kami ang makapag-prosecute kung sino ang dapat i-prosecute, not the other way around,” he further said.
Guevarra acknowledged awareness of reports regarding ICC personnel entering the country, but he reiterated that the Philippine government comprehends the scope of the international court’s authority.
“Well, we have heard reports na in fact ay labas-pasok na dito ang mga taga-ICC ‘no, pero wala namang kahit sino sa kanila na pinigilan ng immigration na pumasok dito dahil hindi naman natin pinagbabawalan, na kung iyan ang mandato ninyo na mag-imbestiga, mag-imbestiga kayo,” said Guevarra.
Duterte initiated his campaign against drugs as a strategy to eliminate the drug problem and subsequently withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2018. This withdrawal became effective in 2019, coinciding with the ICC’s preliminary investigation into the drug war under his administration.
Guevarra maintained that the Philippines’ exit from the treaty signifies that the government is not required to engage with the ICC.
“Kaya hindi kumibo, hindi nag-react ang Philippine government doon sa request na iyon for cooperation dahil nga iyon ang ating position. We have no legal duty to cooperate anymore,” Guevarra said.
“Gusto ninyo, magpatuloy kayo kung anong gusto ninyong imbestigasyon na gawin on your own. Pero huwag ninyo nang hilingin pa na pati ang gobyerno ay tutulong sa inyo sa inyong imbestigasyon kasi we have our own system of investigation here,” he added./PN
