Int’l People’s Tribunal to conduct hearing on alleged war crimes of Marcos, Duterte admins

An international court will conduct hearings on the crimes against international humanitarian law (IHL) allegedly committed by the administrations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte from May 17 to May 18, 2024.

The International People’s Tribunal (IPT) on Thursday said several war crimes such as indiscriminate bombardment, massacres, fake surrenders, extrajudicial killings, and red-tagging will be filed against the two administrations.

“We're convening this tribunal because the times call for it. The intensity and the  scope of armed conflict in the Philippines, the ruthlessness of the atrocities committed by the Philippine government, the severity of the violations on the laws of war, made it imperative to call out and make perpetrators answerable for the outrages against the Filipino people and those who resist oppression and exploitation,” said lawyer and IPT co-convenor Edre Olalia.

“The tribunal...is a parallel or alternative legal or quasi-judicial platform which is a credible and viable alternative to the tedious, complicated, protracted, inadequate, even, status quo-friendly existing legal remedies and legal arenas that do not, essentially and fundamentally, bring true justice to the people,” he added.

The IPT was convened by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and the Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS). The tribunal reached out to Marcos Jr. and Duterte but both camps have yet to express intention to participate in the proceedings.

The results of the hearings will be released on May 19, 2024. 

Meanwhile, former partylist representative Teddy Casiño clarified the charges under the IPT proceedings are unrelated to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the alleged crimes against humanity under the drug war of the Duterte administration.

“Whereas the ICC covered EJKs related to the drug war of Duterte, the IPT also covers EJKs, similar tactics used by Duterte in the drug war but the victims are different. The victims are not drug suspects but activists, or community organizers, or ordinary farmers suspected of sympathizing with the communist rebel movement,” said Casiño.

While it is not enforceable, the tribunal said the results of the hearings, including the pieces of evidence, may be used for legal remedy.

“The results of these tribunal  could not  be executed or enforced by formal  or international bodies but let it be a reminder, the documents, findings, the testimonies that we will be presenting are substantial…in proving that the duty-bearers committed these violations,” said former Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.

“Their time, their day will come in court sooner or later,” Casilao said.—RF, GMA Integrated News