Solons say ICC prelim probe on PH drug war is ‘ray of hope’ for EJK victims

Rep. Gary Alejano (Photo by AARON FAVILA / AP)

With The Hague’s International Criminal Court (ICC) stepping in on the issue of the government’s brutal war on drugs, House lawmakers said this could be considered as a “ray of hope” for victims of drug-related killings.

With The Hague’s International Criminal Court (ICC) stepping in on the issue of the government’s brutal war on drugs, House lawmakers said this could be considered as a “ray of hope” for victims of drug-related killings.

“This initial step of the ICC is also the first step toward bringing justice to the families and all the victims of the war on drugs,” Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said in a statement on Thursday.

“The ICC, stepping in, is a ray of hope amid the compromised rule of law under this administration,” Alejano said.

Alejano is the co-complainant in the supplemental communication filed by his fellow Magdalo, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, before the ICC in June 2017, urging the international body to look into the anti-drug campaign in the Philippines.

READ: Trillanes, Alejano file complaint at ICC vs Duterte’s drug war

The Magdalo lawmakers’ pleading was filed in support of the complaint lawyer Jude Sabio lodged in April 2017 against President Rodrigo Duterte and his senior officials before the ICC over allegations of crimes against humanity in relation to the government’s brutal anti-drug campaign.

“The preliminary examination will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant an investigation. I hope that the preliminary examination will be allowed to carry on – unhindered and with full cooperation from concerned authorities, organizations, and personalities,” Alejano said.

“I am confident on the communication we sent to the ICC and strongly believe that President Duterte and those who perpetuate and defend this policy of killing should be held accountable before the law,” he said.

Another opposition lawmaker Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin also welcomed the development and said as well that it gave hope to thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings in the drug war.

“It is a welcome development and gives hope to thousands of EJK victims that finally justice will be served,” Villarin said.

“This will also hold President Duterte and other top officials involved in the bloody war against drugs accountable as well as it gives us an opportunity to implead other enablers of EJKs, including possibly Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque,” he said.

Villarin added that The Hague court’s involvement in the case would be “damning and damaging” to the Duterte administration in the eyes of Filipinos and the international community.

“I am hopeful that people will now realize the truth and demand accountability from him with all constitutional options available,” he said. /jpv