Gov't should be cooperative in ICC drug war probe —Pimentel

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Sunday said the national government needs to be cooperative in the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation of drug war killings as well as deaths in Davao City under President Rodrigo Duterte's leadership.

Earlier, the ICC approved the start of a probe on killings in the Philippines' bloody drug war, but Malacañang has continued to downplay the investigation. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would rather die than face the international court's investigation. 

For Pimentel, if the country is following the justice system and it is not violating any rights, it should cooperate with the ICC.

"Huwag yung kilos natin na uncooperative. Para naman tayong takot na takot. Lalo na kung wala naman tayong itago," said Pimentel over Super Radyo dzBB.

(Let's not be uncooperative. It seems as though we are scared. Especially if we have nothing to hide.)

Since the Philippines was once a member of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, Pimentel said it must still support the ICC.

"Ang imahe na gusto natin sa Pilipinas ay yung tayo ay responsable at cooperative na bansa. Hindi tayo rogue state... Kung may international treaty, may kabutihan na gusto makamit. Edi suportahan natin ang kabutihan na gusto natin makamit," said Pimentel, chairman of Senate foreign relations committee.

(The image that we want for the Philippines is to be responsible and cooperative. We are not a rogue state. If there is an international treaty, we want to achieve something good, and we should support that.)

While the Philippines' withdrawal from the Statute took effect on March 17, 2019, the ICC said the court retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the country while it was a state party, from November 1, 2011 up to and including March 16, 2019. —LBG, GMA News