Even though the terrible war on drugs that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte organized may have faded into the background, it is still taking a toll on people.
The Philippines’ appeal to halt an international investigation into alleged crimes committed between 2011 and 2019 under a mantle of legitimacy was rejected by the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) on July 18. A member of the civil society claimed that shortly after the ICC’s decision, an elderly person who was still mourning the murder of her grandson in 2019 passed away while still waiting for justice.
Deaconess Rubylin G. Litao, representative of the United Methodist Church-led organization Rise Up for Life and for Rights, said,” This is a kind of success but still needs more work to be done.” She spoke after attending the woman’s death in Manila as a brother organizer, but she chose not to reveal her name out of respect for the family who were still alive.
According to Litao, some people have waited for this for about ten years, while others haven’t lived long enough. ” There are still unnamed patients who have died as a result of this battle. More families are attempting to destroy the reality while remaining silent.
Actually, between 2016 and 2019, the war on drugs claimed the lives of about 6,000 people. Since the ICC attorney has asserted that as many as 30, 000 people were killed during that same period, Litao and her empire believe that thousands more victims have not been identified.
Around a year after the ICC announced its intention to look into deaths connected to the drugs assault, the Philippines officially withdrew from the organization in 2019. Two years later, in 2021, the ICC attorney asked the pre-trial room for permission to start an inspection. & nbsp,
The ICC, however, upheld last quarter its ability to continue its international investigation and rejected the Philippines’ request to keep things under wraps after years of controversy over the alleged ineptitude and partiality of a private investigation into the war on drugs. Despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘ s earlier declaration that he intends to stay out of it, the most recent court decision means that the inspection will continue. & nbsp,
He recently raised” very serious concerns about their authority and about what we consider to be meddling and assaults on the independence of the Republic” in remarks to the Filipino push.
According to Marcos Jr.,” we are largely disengaging from any phone or conversation with the ICC.”
Duterte started a harsh assault on drug-related atrocities not long after he was elected president in 2016. Under two operations, or” plans ,” disguised as a” Double Barrel” campaign, he gave police the authority to detain or kill those in possession of illegal drugs. & nbsp,
These operations included” Tokhang,” which targeted alleged low-level users or dealers at their residences, and” High-Value Target ,” aimed at major industry players.
The ICC’s research is centered on this strategy, but its proposed scope may go even further, starting in November 2011 when the Philippines joined the court and ending in March 2019.
As part of that, the jury agreed to include the so-called” Davao Death Squad” in its investigation beyond Duterte’s war on drugs.
Local officials are said to have carried out 385 illegal murders while Duterte was mayor of Davao City between 2011 and 2016 and before his election as president. Deuterte adopted a hard-core strategy for dealing with drug-related crimes and publicly stated during his national plan that he would fund an aggressive” war on drugs.”
The Philippines requested a recess shortly after the ICC approved the analysis, arguing that the judge lacked jurisdiction over acts committed in the nation after it withdrew from the tribunal. The pre-trial bedroom agreed to the lawyer’s request to begin the investigation in January of this year, reiterating the court as having jurisdiction over actions taken while the Philippines was a associate. Another charm was submitted by Marcos Jr., but the court’s most recent pre-trial bedroom ruling rejected it. & nbsp,
The ICC attorney’s business, which is looking into the matter, stated that it had collaborated with the Filipino government on the postponement process and” hopes to discover ways to engage with all parties concerned.”
One of them is the bond of Litao. The organization is dedicated to keeping up its involvement with the neighborhood and helping people fight for their loved ones’ rights.
According to Litao,” I think the global community saw the problems of the Filipino people, particularly the victims’ households.” ” We are pleased and would like to continue working on this research with the International Criminal Court.”
According to attorney Theodore O. Te, regional coordinator for the National Capital Region at the Free Legal Assistance Group( FLAG ), the nation’s civil society is bolstering its defense of the patients before the ICC. & nbsp,
He stated that” we are assisting some of the claims and supporting our attorneys who have requested ICC approval to serve as assistant counsel.” ” Honestly, I don’t think the prosecutor’s office can anticipate official support from the Spanish government.”
Although less severe, it is still present. There are still murders happening. “& nbsp,
The Free Legal Assistance Group’s local representative, Theodore O. Te
The Marcos management has been accused by rights activists of continuing the violence in a more subdued manner and has yet to negate any of Duterte’s standard documents that served as the legal justification for judicial executions or other human rights violations.
FLAG is currently awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision after challenging these statements from the Duterte period. According to Te, the war on drugs loses its recognized authority and legitimacy if the jury declares these securities to be unlawful or illegal. & nbsp,
Te thinks there is little opportunity the killings can be dealt with on a national level under the existing administration, even though home justice continues to be the top priority. He claimed that the ICC appears to be the only obtainable legal mechanism. & nbsp,
The idea of having to go to the ICC is never particularly appealing to Filipinos. ” We don’t have a choice ,” he declared. However, we are also aware that the ICC is hardly faultless. “& nbsp,
Te stated that the Filipino people themselves will need to clear the way for responsibilities to be upheld on a local level. According to him, that can only be accomplished through a deliberate social process that prioritizes human rights over murder. & nbsp,
” The war on drugs was formally started by Duterte.” Then, in a way, it has changed. Although less powerful, it is still present. There are still murders going on,” Te said.