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MANILA, Philippines – The conclusions of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that there is a basis to believe that crimes against humanity were committed during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte is a vindication for groups seeking accountability, he said Bayan Muna.
Both the president of Bayan Muna, Neri Colmenares, and deputy Carlos Zárate said Tuesday that they validate the criticism they have leveled at the administration, especially on the discourse of alleged human rights violations in the conduct of the war against illegal drugs.
The findings of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office are a response to the case brought by critics of the war on drugs and the families of the victims in August 2018, which said that President Duterte violated Article 7 of the Rome Statute by “ widespread and systematic attacks in the form of the murder of thousands of civilians ”.
Colmenares is one of the attorneys, including those from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, who helped Rise Up for Life and Rights draft the complaint.
LEE: Critics of the war on drugs file a complaint against Duterte for ‘crimes against humanity’
“We have been saying this for a long time and, as a lawyer for RISE UP in their complaint to the ICC, also as president of Bayan Muna, who have always supported the families of EJK victims in their demand for justice,” said Colmenares it’s a statement.
“We are glad that the ICC Prosecutor’s Office has found credibility in these complaints and the evidence that we have presented,” he added. “The Duterte administration may deny to the heights that they are blatantly violating human rights, but the international community is also watching closely and we hope that justice will soon be served.”
Zarate also said it is a relief that the ICC has already responded, highlighting the latest alleged arrests and attacks on human rights defenders and activists.
“With the recent escalation of red labels, arrests and extrajudicial killings of critics of the administration and the political opposition, we are relieved that the ICC has expressed concern on the issue,” Zarate said.
“The violators of human rights have been warned. Nothing is forever; not even impunity, “he added.
The ICC statement elicited mixed reactions, and Malacañang said it would be a waste of time and money if the ICC carried out an investigation, because the country had already withdrawn from the Rome Statute, an international agreement that created the ICC in the first place. place. .
“It is up to them what they want to do, we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. And the ICC decision in the case of the Americans in Afghanistan said that when there is no cooperation, why should an investigation be launched? “Said presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
READ: Palacio: ICC will lose time and money if it investigates Duterte’s war on drugs
However, the Prosecutor’s Office has said before that the investigation cannot be stopped since the complaint was filed before Duterte requested the withdrawal of the country from the ICC in March 2019. Neither did the withdrawal of the lawyer who filed the complaint, Jude Wise. enough to stop the complaints.
READ: ICC will continue to assess complaint vs. Duterte; findings in 2020
LEE: ICC Prosecutor: Duterte’s investigation cannot be stopped
On the side of the opposition, which has been critical of the war on illegal drugs, it is somewhat disturbing that some time has passed before the ICC finds a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity were committed.
LEE: Pangilinan: ‘A little worrying’ that it took the ICC ‘more than 4 years of daily murders’
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been harshly criticized locally and abroad for allegedly ignoring human rights in the conduct of the war on drugs, as its statements were blamed for the increase in alleged extrajudicial executions.
So far, only one case of summary execution has been decided: the murder of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos, who was accused of being involved in drug trafficking, even if it was not the original target of the operation. The court found that Delos Santos was shot point-blank, despite surrendering and pleading with police officers.
LEE: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos – court
Zárate said that they hope this event signals the beginning of an investigation into the state of human rights in the country.
“We hope that the ICC Prosecutor’s Office will seek authorization to open an investigation in the Philippines in the first half of 2021 or sooner if it can, to focus international attention on the dire human rights situation in the country. and help stop it, ”he said.
/ MUF
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