Duterte seeks to protect himself from drug war claims via Eleksyon 2022 win –Zarate

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate on Friday claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte was making sure that he will be protected from drug war accusations by running and pushing for his candidate in the 2022 elections.

“Gusto niyang ma-extend ang kanyang influence and control beyond 2022 sa pamamagitan ng i-ensure niya na ang kanyang successor ay magmumula sa kanyang pangkat,” Zarate said.

(He wants to extend his influence and control beyond 2022 by ensuring that his successor would be one of his supporters.)

“Isa sa rason dito ay para ma-proteksyunan ang kanilang interests, economically and politically, especially in relation dito sa gagawing imbestigasyon din at possible trial ng International Criminal Court,” he added.

(One of the reasons is to protect their interests, economic and political, especially concerning the International Criminal Court probe on his war on drugs.)

On Monday, the prosecutor of the ICC asked for authorization to open a full investigation into drug war killings in the Philippines, during which crimes against humanity could have been committed.

"I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorization to proceed with an investigation," prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

According to Philippines government data, from the time President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 until the end of April this year, security forces killed 6,117 drug suspects.

Rights groups alleged that authorities have summarily executed drug suspects, but police counter claimed that everyone who was killed had fought back violently.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte will never cooperate with any investigation that may be launched by the ICC regarding the killings blamed on his drug war.

"Hinding-hindi tayo magko-cooperate dahil hindi na tayo miyembro ng ICC," Roque said.

(We will not cooperate because we are no longer a member of the ICC.)

"Hinding-hindi magko-cooperate ang Presidente hanggang matapos ng kanyang termino sa June 30, 2022," he added.

(The President will never cooperate until his term ends on June 30, 2022.)

— DVM, GMA News