Guevarra: Marcos legal team should give ICC probe ‘serious, careful consideration’

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the legal team of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should give the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the former President Rodrigo Duterte administration's war on drugs their “most serious and careful consideration.”

“Considering the importance of the ICC case not only to the individuals named in the complaint but also to the country as a sovereign state, the President’s legal team should indeed give this matter their most serious and careful consideration,” Guevarra said.

He added that it was also Marcos’ prerogative to determine the international organizations the country may join after the President thumbed down proposals for the country to rejoin the ICC.

“I suppose the President’s primary consideration is always the best interests of our country, with utmost regard for our national sovereignty,” said Guevarra.

In an order dated July 14, the ICC gave the Philippines until September 8, 2022 to provide any observations on the planned reopening of the probe.

The ICC also instructed the Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS) to coordinate with victims and their legal representatives, and collect their views by September 8, 2022.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested that the investigation into the Duterte administration's war on drugs be resumed after the Philippine government was unable to demonstrate that it investigated or was looking into nationals or others connected with the series of killings linked to the drug war.

Government records indicate that over 6,000 supposed drug suspects were killed in police operations since Duterte assumed office on June 30, 2016.

However, several human rights groups estimated the death toll to be between 12,000-30,000.

Last November 2021, the ICC suspended its investigation in response to the Philippine government's request to defer the investigation. — DVM, GMA News