Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Friday said the Philippines will focus on its own investigation and prosecution of crimes related to the controversial war on drugs during the Duterte administration following the rejection by the International Criminal Court of Manila’s appeal to stop the continuation of its investigation.
“Instead, the Philippine government will focus on its own investigation and prosecution of crimes in relation to the drug war,” Guevarra said, in a statement.
On Tuesday, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the appeal of the Philippines against the resumption of the ICC prosecutor’s investigation into the drug war.
But the Chamber said the decision was not on the country’s argument on jurisdiction. Due to this, Guevarra said the country “has no legal duty to cooperate with the ICC investigation.”
Guevarra said that he had personally discussed the matter with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and agreed that the appeal is the end of the country’s engagement with the court.
“The ICC is free to proceed with its own investigation but it cannot expect any cooperation from the Philippine govt, as we continue to dispute its jurisdiction,” he said.
Meanwhile, several government officials have also spoken against cooperating with the ICC, including Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who had advised former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to avoid visiting countries that could be influenced by the ICC.
Duterte and Dela Rosa, the chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, were both mentioned in the ICC prosecutor’s report on the killings.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said the Senate will not give up Dela Rosa unless there’s a local warrant for his arrest. Dela Rosa said he would also protect himself from arrest.
According to Dela Rosa, Duterte has just laughed off the prospect of the ICC continuing its investigation a few days before the appeal was rejected.
Under the drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records. But Human rights groups claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.
