Former Senator Leila De Lima said on Tuesday, October 22, that the Philippines cannot stop the International Criminal Court (ICC) from its investigation into the Philippines’ war on drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
De Lima, a vocal critic of former President Duterte and his controversial anti-drug campaign, emphasized the importance of allowing international bodies to probe cases involving those who bear the greatest responsibility.
“Hindi natin puede pigilan ang ICC [na mag-imbestiga]. Doon sila (ICC) nakatutok roon sa may greatest responsibility,” De Lima said, reinforcing the idea that the international community has a role in holding powerful individuals accountable for alleged human rights violations.
De Lima further elaborated on the steps that the Philippine government should take in the event that individuals are found guilty of crimes under international law.
“Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another state pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties,” De Lima said.
De Lima emphasized that such crimes are punishable under Philippine law, specifically citing Republic Act 9851, also known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity. The law penalizes acts like willful killing, extermination, enslavement, forced deportation, unlawful imprisonment, and torture.
Duterte and key officials from his administration are under investigation by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity linked to systematic drug war deaths during his presidency. While police records report around 6,000 deaths, human rights groups argue the number could be as high as 30,000, including vigilante killings spurred by Duterte’s policies.
Former President Duterte and his administration’s officials have consistently denied that arbitrary killings were part of their policy. Additionally, Duterte has maintained that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines, citing the country’s unilateral withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019. (TCSP)
