ICC decision to resume drug war probe welcomed by human rights groups

Human rights groups on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber to deny the appeal of the Philippines against the resumption of the investigation into the controversial drug war.

In a statement, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Bryony Lau said the ruling marks the next step toward justice for victims.

“The Marcos administration should back up its stated commitment to human rights and the fight against impunity by following through on its international legal obligation to cooperate with the court’s investigation,” Lau said.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said victims and their advocates are ready to cooperate with the ICC.

"Oriented on how the ICC works, the families have hope that this moves us closer to justice. They look forward to the ICC indicting the “most responsible”: the masterminds and administrators of a cruel and criminal government policy that targeted killing thousands of poor people," said the NUPL in a statement.

For its part, the human rights coalition In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) reiterated its call for the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the ICC.

“iDefend reiterates its call to the Marcos Jr. government to abandon the violent war on drugs, formally cooperate with the ICC investigation and end impunity for these serious crimes,” it said.

“Now that international criminal justice is running its course, let this administration’s response be the return to the fold of the law by re-ratifying the Rome Statute,” it added.

Meanwhile, Karapatan said there is a need for the ICC to come in because “all domestic investigation mechanisms… are ineffective and only meant to window-dress the current human rights situation.”

“We laud the courage, perseverance, and tenacity of the victims and their families, as well as the diligence and persistent work of human rights lawyers in pursuing this investigation,” it said.

“Let this welcome development further inspire the Filipinos’ struggle for justice and accountability. We remain steadfast in the call to hold Duterte and those responsible for the bloody drug war and other human rights violations be held fully accountable,” it added.

In an open court hearing at the Netherlands earlier, Presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut announced that the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the appeal of the government.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra had said that the Philippines can no longer file an appeal with this decision. Guevarra said the ICC could also indict certain individuals over killings in the drug war if there is sufficient evidence.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, said the country will not comply if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against individuals over killings in the drug war.

Other Philippine officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., have said the government will not cooperate with the ICC, reiterating that the tribunal has no jurisdiction in the country.

Under the drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations, based on government records. Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000. —VAL, GMA Integrated News