MANILA: The Philippines has signalled a softened stance towards an International Criminal Court ( ICC ) investigation into thousands of killings in a “war on drugs”, a probe activists hope will see popular ex-president Rodrigo Duterte face charges of crimes against humanity.
The “war on drugs” was the signature promotion plan that swept Duterte to strength in 2016 as a maverick, crime-busting mayor, who delivered on promises he made during vociferous speeches to eliminate thousands of narcotics dealers.
The flame Duterte formally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty in 2019 when it started looking into complaints of organized illegal deaths, and the Philippines has until just refused to cooperate with the ICC inspection, which it announced in 2023.
” We will speak to them immediately in a very well-defined fashion, in the heart of civility. Some people are trying to bridge the break to take us up, so we can relax at one stand,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in an exam.
” There are certain places we may cooperate”, he told Reuters, stressing that “lines have to be drawn properly”.
Remulla’s notes suggest a noticeable change from the president’s past hardline position against the ICC, which it had insisted has no authority to check. The ICC, a court of last resort, says reported offences committed prior to a person’s removal are within its reach.
Remulla said assistance with an international tribunal remains lawful under Spanish law, adding ICC staff “have been going in and out of the land without us raising anything”.
” I know that, as interestingly from folks I know from the animal rights group, they’ve been in touch here,” he added.
SLUMLAND KILLINGS
According to authorities, 6,200 defendants were killed during anti-drug activities that they say ended in brawls. But protesters say the real burden of the assault was far greater, with hundreds of slumland drug people, many of whom were included on standard “watch lists”, killed in mysterious circumstances.
Police deny involvement in those killings and reject allegations from rights groups of systematic executions and cover-ups.
Duterte, 79, has been unapologetic in his defence of his campaign and says he told police to kill only in self-defence.
In a November congressional hearing he urged the ICC to “hurry up” on its probe, adding “if I go to hell, so be it”.
In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said his government would not block the ICC if Duterte wished to be investigated, adding the government would be obliged to comply with any international arrest warrant related to the drugs war.
If indicted, Duterte could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.
Asked about the possibility of the Philippines rejoining the ICC, Justice Secretary Remulla said it was “another question”.
” We are starting to explore the limits of non-membership to the ICC and the extent of crimes committed prior to the withdrawal,” Remulla said, suggesting the country was open to limited cooperation with the court.
The ICC has said it does not comment on its investigations.
The Philippines has its own probe into the drug killings but has made little progress, despite what activists say is substantial evidence of a litany of abuses by state officials.
Remulla said the ICC’s work could help advance the Philippines ‘ own investigations.
” We have to admit the shortcomings that are there,” he said. ” We always want to do justice for everyone. ”