CHR says no word yet from ICC regarding drug war probe in PH
Commission on Human Rights INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Despite clarifications that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is free to do its investigation into the past administration’s drug war violations, probers still have not established contact with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
During a meeting with the media on Thursday, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc was asked whether ICC had reached out to the agency already, considering that CHR had already expressed commitment in terms of cooperating with the prosecutor — being an independent government office.
In response, Palpal-latoc said the only communication they got regarding the ICC probe was from the House of Representatives, as the committee on human rights and committee on justice deliberated resolutions asking the government to cooperate with the investigation.
“Wala pa po, wala kaming natatanggap na official communication from the ICC, concerning the ICC investigation. ‘Yon pa lang pong sa House of Representatives, sa resolution nila, do’n pa lang kami nagparticipate,” he said.
(We didn’t receive anything, no official communication from the ICC concerning the ICC investigation. What we received is an invite from the House, regarding their resolution, so we only participated in that.)
During a hearing at the House last November 29, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the Philippine government is not bound to cooperate with ICC. However, he clarified that the ICC is free to do its probe, but should not expect any help from local authorities.
For CHR, Commissioner Faydah Dumarpa said they are willing to cooperate with ICC if prosecutors need their help.
As to CHR’s stand towards the ICC probe, Palpal-latoc maintained that they are consistent with their stand — that the government should allow the investigation and furthermore, rejoin the ICC.
He also said he hopes CHR can join the panel reviewing the drug war killings, which is headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Inulit lang din naman namin ‘yong ano, consistent position namin ever since — that we’re encouraging government to participate and cooperate with the ICC investigation, and also to rejoin the ICC, the Rome Statute,” he said.
(We just reiterated our consistent position ever since — that we’re encouraging the government to participate and cooperate with the ICC investigation, and also to rejoin the ICC, the Rome Statute.)
“Sa ngayon wala pang kaming engagement with DOJ, actually finallow up na namin siya through the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat […] but hopefully by next year ay ano na, maging active na ‘yong aming engagement,” he added.
(As of now we do not have an engagement with the DOJ, actually we followed this up with through the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat […] but hopefully by next year we would have an active engagement.)
Several complaints for allegedly committing the crime against humanity of mass murder were filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte and implementers of the drug war, based on claims that the state forces used excessive force and committed gross human rights violations in the process.
In response to the complaints, Duterte declared in March 2018 that the Philippines is leaving the Rome Statute — the international treaty that created the ICC. Since then, Duterte and his allies have maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country, and that he has not done anything that would merit such complaints.
READ: 2 House panels adopt reso calling on PH gov’t to cooperate with ICC probe
Initially, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government is not talking with the ICC since the international court only comes into the picture if the justice system in a country is not functioning. However, after several groups recently urged him to allow the ICC to start its probe, Marcos said they are studying a possible return to the Rome Statute.
READ: Trillanes revives call on Marcos to let ICC probe Duterte for alleged EJKs
READ: PH return to ICC fold ‘under study’– Bongbong Marcos
Meanwhile, three resolutions filed in the House — calling on the government to cooperate with the drug war probe — were consolidated and adopted by the committee on human rights and committee on justice last November 29.
