Mother of 2 killed drug suspects urges ICC to pursue war on drugs probe

Over four years after her sons were killed in government anti-drug operations, Llore Pasco called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to pursue its probe on the Duterte administration's bloody drug war.

On Maki Pulido's 24 Oras report, Pasco said she was willing to wait as long as it takes to get justice for her sons Juan Carlos Lozano, who died in Diliman, Quezon City during an August 10, 2017 anti-drug operation, and Crisanto Lozano who was killed in Diliman, Quezon City in a May 12, 2017 police operation.

"Para po talaga makamit po natin ang hustisya kahit ito po ay tumagal pa, laan po kaming maghintay," Pasco said.

(To finally get justice, we'll wait however long it takes.)

The ICC earlier urged alleged victims of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs to submit their views, concerns, and expectations which will be used for the consideration of ICC judges, who will decide on a possible full investigation into the controversial anti-drug campaign.

It was former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who urged the ICC to conduct a full-blown investigation into the supposed crimes against humanity committed in Duterte's drug war.

Her successor ICC prosecutor Karim Khan is expected to take over once the international court allows an investigation into the anti-drug campaign.

Security issues

However, unlike Pasco, some families of drug war victims were hesitant about testifying against the government's drug war probe because they feared for their safety, according to an expert from New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"They are facing tremendous security issues. Marami sa kanila takot lumabas, takot magsalita," Carlos Conde, HRW senior researcher in the Philippines, warned.

(A lot of them are scared about exposing themselves, are frightened to speak up.)

Lawyer Kristina Conti of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said they are going to areas where there are drug war victims to help them submit their views and concerns to the ICC.

She said other groups are also making similar efforts to submit allegations of inhumane acts in the drug war such as vigilante killings and illegal detentions.

Jurisdiction remains

Retired ICC Judge Raul Pangalangan, meanwhile, said despite the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019, the ICC still has jurisdiction and may proceed with its investigation.

"The court maintains jurisdiction even after withdrawal, it retains jurisdiction over all crimes committed in its territory while it is still a member of the Rome statute," said Pangalangan.

Malacañang, however, said it was confident that ICC prosecutors would not be able to build a case for crimes against humanity against Duterte because the government will ignore the proceedings.

“The ICC can do whatever it wants, but there is a chamber of ICC which already said na huwag na mag-imbestiga kung walang cooperation ng state [don't push through with the investigation if the state won't cooperate],” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. — Consuelo Marquez/DVM, GMA News