Lawyer files petition in Calbayog RTC to ban ICC probers in PH

The International Criminal Court (ICC PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer on Wednesday asked a regional trial court to prevent the entry of the International Criminal Court (ICC) members.

If the ICC members are already in the country, Atty. Fernando Perito said they should be guarded and prevented from coordinating and doing any investigation related to the killings related to the war on drugs during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Perito, together with overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joseph Forrosuelo, said the ICC members should “be deported immediately and be called as persona non grata.”

In a 12-page petition filed before the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court, the petitioners asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction against ICC investigators.

The petition came following reports that ICC investigators are already in the Philippines to conduct their probe.

READ: Pimentel on info about ICC probers’ PH arrival: ‘What’s wrong with that?’ 

Perito said any investigation, prosecution, trial, and resolution of cases in relation to the anti-illegal drug war is governed by the provisions of the country’s Constitution,  existing laws, and criminal procedures.

“With all our laws and rules, policies in order, are we to succumb to international pressure to ignore our existing laws, rules, and procedures, simply because that international court is so powerful,” the petition read.

“The country and our government should not entertain any propaganda, outcry, or calls allowing any prosecutor for that ICC to resume investigation particularly in the alleged culpability of a very protective President Duterte to his people,” they said.

READ: Duterte can’t evade ICC, end treaty on his own  

They challenged human rights advocates to prove their claim that at least 30,000 people were killed during the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

READ: DOJ to study Makabayan bloc’s proposal to allow ICC probe on Duterte 

They said the numbers and allegations of human rights violations were “exaggerated hyperboles.” Besides, they pointed out that Philippines is no longer part of ICC.

READ: Retired SC exec: PH still has obligation to cooperate with ICC probe 

“To allow any prosecutor, investigator or any representative coming from ICC to enter the Philippines with their purpose in any event is but to investigate, gather sham evidence and stories that were never brought before courts of justice here in the Philippines, cause  grave and irreparable damage to our democracy and on justice system,” the petition read.