Drug war victims’ lawyers agree ICC probe likely finished

COMPOSITE IMAGE: INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyers of the families of drug war victims agreed that the investigation of the alleged crimes against humanity against former President Rodrigo Duterte may already have been completed even as the Duterte camp tried to stir a controversy over the purported arrival of probers of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“I agree with that because the evidence is strong and the investigation has been going on for years,” said former Rep. Neri Colmenares, who represents the victims’ families, along with human rights lawyer Kristina Conti.

“It’s been so long. But we believe that the case is strong and the culpability is very clear,” Colmenares said, reacting to the view of former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that the probe may already be at the level of finishing touches.

“I think the case is now at the finishing touches level for some of the principals, while those who are at the secondary level, cases are still being built up or are about to be completed too,” Trillanes said in a television interview late Saturday.

Still no confirmation

But Colmenares and Conti, both counsels of record, told the Inquirer on Sunday that they have not been informed whether the ICC investigators have indeed entered the country as claimed by the Duterte camp.

Duterte’s former spokesperson Harry Roque and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa last week questioned the purported arrival of ICC investigators although the Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General, and the Bureau of Immigration said they were unable to verify the claim.

Since he was chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s term, Dela Rosa would likely be among the principal accused in the case.

“But regardless, my statement is that if they are truly here, then they should talk to the families at least,” he said. “Even just to offer assurance for them that the wheels of justice are turning for their case.”

“Remember that many of them have been waiting since 2017,” Colmenares added, referring to the first time that the families of drug war victims filed a communique asking the ICC to investigate Duterte’s deadly drug war.

Conti said an official visit by ICC probers would be a positive thing since the Philippines has repeatedly said it would not cooperate.

“If they are indeed here, it is a sign of their thoroughness,” she added, noting that the ICC is obliged to seek the Philippine government’s official cooperation in investigating the alleged crimes against humanity.

There are no clear-cut rules on how exactly ICC probers could enter the country, but Conti said, at the minimum, the ICC would likely send a request through diplomatic channels.

“But the request has to be kept confidential by the state. It’s not an option for the state to disclose, except to the extent that they have to disclose,” she added.

Conti said that it’s possible that the government “knows if they are here and they are simply respecting the confidentiality of the request.” INQ