At Manila’s request, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended an investigation into alleged human rights violations during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
In September, ICC justices approved an investigation into the campaign, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of accused drug dealers. Activists claim that many have been executed by law enforcement agencies with the president’s implicit approval.
The executions were carried out in self-defense, according to Philippine officials, and the ICC has no power to intervene.
Manila filed the deferral request on Nov. 10, according to court documents disclosed by the ICC and confirmed by Philippine officials on Saturday, citing the country’s own investigations into drug war fatalities.
“The prosecution has temporarily paused its investigation while it considers the breadth and impact of the deferral request,” ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan wrote, adding that the ICC would seek additional information from the Philippines.
If governments are conducting their own investigations and prosecutions for the same actions, they might ask the ICC to defer a case.
In 2018, Duterte, 76, withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, claiming that the international court lacked jurisdiction to indict him. The International Criminal Court (ICC) argues that it has jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed while Manila was a member and until 2019.
The request for a postponement comes after the Duterte administration repeatedly stated that it will not cooperate with the ICC.
“We welcome the new ICC prosecutor’s judiciousness in deciding to give the matter a fresh look, and we trust that the matter will be resolved in favor of our government’s exoneration and recognition of the vibrancy of our justice system,” Karlo Nograles, Duterte’s acting spokesperson, said in a statement on Saturday.
A Philippine lawyer’s group urged the ICC not to snuff out the last ray of hope for drug-war victims’ families.
The National Union of People’s Lawyers, which represents some victims’ relatives, stated in a statement that “we beg the ICC not to be persuaded by the assertions now being made by the Duterte administration.”
According to the report, the Philippine legal system is “very slow and unhelpful to the bulk of poor and unrepresented victims.”
The government’s argument that existing domestic procedures provide citizens with justice according to Human Rights Watch is ludicrous. In a statement, Brad Adam, the ICC’s Asia director, stated, “Let’s hope the ICC sees through the charade that it is.”
ELECTION TIMES ARE RUNNING OUT
The ICC ruling is a boost for Duterte, who announced this week that he will run for Senate in next year’s elections. The constitution prevents him from seeking re-election as president.
According to political analyst Ramon Casiple, vice president of consultancy and research firm Novo Trends PH, “it will, of course, bring some comfort in the boisterous elections.” “However, it is possible that (he) will not be able to do more after the elections, especially if the incoming government chooses to comply with the ICC process.”
In its nearly two-decade existence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted five African militia leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, all from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Uganda.
