ICC probe into Duterte's drug war will not prosper — presidential human rights panel

The investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the drug war of the Duterte administration will not prosper, the head of the presidential interagency panel on human rights said Wednesday.

Undersecretary Severo Catura, executive director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), made the statement during a press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

"Hindi pwedeng mag-prosper kasi ang ganyang kaso unless na you ask that very important question na, wala ka bang justice system sa inyong bansa para maaksyunan ng lahat ng ito," he said during a press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

(This kind of case cannot prosper unless you ask that very important question, do we have a justice system to address all of these?)

The PHRC is mandated to advise the President on all human rights concerns and issues. The executive secretary serves as the committee chair, while the secretaries of Justice and Foreign Affairs are vice chairpersons.

The heads of 10 other government agencies or offices serve as PHRC members, according to the committee's website.

Senate probe

Meanwhile, Catura called as an "important move" the Senate inquiry into the investigation of United Nations special rapporteur (UNSR) Irene Khan regarding human rights and free speech in the Philippines.

"'Yun naman sa inquiry ni Madame [Senator] Imee [Marcos] with regards to the UNSRs, I think it's an important move if only to convey, if only to inform more people and players kung paano nga ba talaga 'to ginagawa," he said.

(On Madame Senator Imee Marcos' inquiry with regards to the UNSRs, I think its an important move if only to convey, if only to inform more people and players how it is really done.)

He added, "Alam naman natin 'yung iba't ibang personality na nakakaharap natin sa UN. In fact, 'yung ginamit nga na impolite, hindi nga impolite, 'yung iba nga they are just outright rude lang and proven rude. Iyan nga ang description ko dyan e. Talaga may iba na ganoon ang perspective."

(We all know that we face different personalities in the UN. In fact, those referred to as impolite, are not impolite. Others, they are just outright rude and proven rude. That's my description of them. There are really those with that kind of perspective.)

A resolution has been filed in the Senate seeking an inquiry into the "impolite intrusion" and "unwarranted presence of various intergovernmental organizations" in the Philippines.

In Senate Resolution 927 filed on Feb. 7, Marcos particularly mentioned the ICC and the UN as groups which "pose[s] a threat to the country's independence and sovereignty." — VDV, GMA Integrated News