ICC probers already in PH? Dela Rosa says claims not yet validated

MANILA, Philippines — Claims that International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators have arrived in the country are unconfirmed according to Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Thursday, although he maintained that it would be an infringement on Philippine sovereignty if probers are indeed here.

During a virtual briefing, dela Rosa was asked about former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s claim that ICC investigators are already in the Philippines, to which the senator responded by saying that they have no choice but to face the music if the government allows it.

Dela Rosa and former president Rodrigo Duterte are some of the respondents in the complaints filed before the ICC for allegedly committing the crime against humanity of mass murder in implementing the war against illegal drugs.

“Well, if they are here, we cannot do anything; if they were allowed by our government, we cannot do anything but face the music if they are here.  But as far as I know, that’s only one source of information, and in order for that information to be validated, it has to be confirmed by another source of information,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“But so far, it’s only Atty. Harry Roque whom I’ve heard saying that, I haven’t heard anyone else saying that ICC has been allowed here to investigate.  I do not have any other source of information so far. That information has not yet been validated because it has not yet been confirmed by another source,” he added.

READ: Duterte, 11 others accused of crimes against humanity before ICC

But dela Rosa insists that the government’s stand — that it would not cooperate with the ICC probe — should be maintained.

Dela Rosa was referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s previous declaration that his administration would no longer engage with the ICC after the international body rejected the Philippine government’s appeal to stop the investigation of crimes against humanity complaints.

“The government’s position should be maintained and felt on the ground.  So if the official position of the government is that they (ICC) would not be entertained, and that they are infringing here by conducting an investigation, as former senator Enrile said, they can be arrested, if they are really conducting investigations dito nang walang clearance sa gobyerno (without clearance from the government),” he said.

“They are infringing on our sovereignty […]  (They can be arrested) and be deported back as an undesirable alien, they can be deported back to their home country,” he added.

He also urged the government to confirm if Roque’s statements are true — that ICC investigators have arrived.

“They should do that. Otherwise, they would become inutile if they do not know; they would become inutile because somebody’s doing something under their nose.  So they should know that” he noted.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: ‘That’s it; we’re done talking with ICC’

In a video posted on his Facebook page, Roque said that President Marcos Jr. would deny involvement in the ICC investigation supposedly being done in the country by mid-January.  However, he said he is sure that ICC probers are already here in the country.

“My mole said that by mid-January, there would be a denial from PBBM that he has nothing to do with that cooperation.  Even though I really know that the Caucasian lawyers of the ICC are already here, coordinating with the lawyers of the alleged victims,” Roque claimed.

Should he be able to confirm Roque’s claims, dela Rosa said that he would ask the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) why it was allowed in the first place.

“I have no plan, but if I am able to confirm — from my end, if I can get a positive confirmation as to their presence and as to their activities within the Philippine territory, then I will ask the authorities, particularly the DOJ and DILG maybe, why are they allowed to do that.  I’m going to ask them why they allowed that to happen,” he said.

“If they say that there is an order to let the ICC go inside and investigate, then that’s where I’ll stop and look at what will be the next development,” he added.

Dela Rosa was Duterte’s first Philippine National Police chief, implementing the drug war under the Oplan Tokhang — a moniker dela Rosa created, out of Visayan words ‘Toktok’ (to knock) and ‘Hangyo’ (to plead).

According to government data, over 7,200 individuals died during the Duterte administration’s drug war, but different human rights organizations claim that the actual death toll may be anywhere between 12,000 and 30,000.

In response to the complaints, Duterte declared in March 2018 that the Philippines is leaving the Rome Statute, maintaining that the ICC can no longer investigate as it has no jurisdiction over the country.

Duterte also insisted that he has not done anything that would merit such complaints.

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