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Evidence needed to show there's human rights violation in drug war, PNP insists


The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday underscored the importance of pieces of evidence, which will prove that human rights violations were really committed by state forces in the Duterte administration's drug war. 

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana was asked for comment regarding the report of the International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor, stating that there is "reasonable basis" to believe that crimes against humanity were committed under President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. 

Usana said Malacañang already provided the official position of the national government regarding the report. 

"Nagbigay na po ang Palasyo ng reaksyon as regards the ICC report. We give it to Malacañang... In so far as the official position of the government, hindi po nire-recognize ang ICC report," Usana said. 

"Kasama po 'yun sa usapin ng human rights. Kailangan naman po siguro na makita ho ano ba 'yung mga pieces of evidence na nagsasabi na may violation of human rights po," he added. 

The ICC's Office of the Prosecutor has focused its preliminary examination on allegations that Duterte and law enforcement officials "have actively promoted and encouraged the killing of suspected or purported drug users and/or dealers."

Its latest report stated that there seemed to be a limited number of investigations and prosecutions initiated and in some cases completed at the national level on the direct perpetrators of certain criminal conduct that allegedly took place amid the drug war.

According to the Palace, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s appreciation of the incidents linked to the controversial drug campaign was “legally erroneous.”

“We do not agree with her. It’s legally erroneous dahil mayroon po tayong minimum gravity na required. Hindi po lahat ng krimen ay nililitis sa ICC,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a briefing on Tuesday.

“Bahala sila kung anong gusto nilang gawin. Hindi po natin kinikilala ang hurisdiksyon ng ICC," he added. 

The ICC prosecutor is eyeing to finish the preliminary examination on the Philippine situation in the first half of 2021. —KG, GMA News

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