Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomes the DOJ's potential dialogue with the ICC, expressing hope for justice for victims of the previous administration's war on drugs. This marks a shift in the Philippines' stance on the ICC, as the government previously opposed rejoining the court.
On January 24, 2025, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed hope that the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's statement regarding a potential dialogue with the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) could bring real justice to thousands of victims affected by the previous administration's war on drugs.
Hontiveros emphasized the importance of the Philippine government's cooperation with the ICC investigation, not only due to treaty obligations but also to address the long-standing pleas for justice from families of victims like Kian delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, and Reynaldo 'Kulot' de Guzman. This statement marks a notable shift in the current administration's stance, which previously maintained the Philippines' disinterest in rejoining the ICC. President Marcos had previously asserted that the ICC lacked jurisdiction over the Philippines and that its investigation into drug-war related killings constituted an interference in the country's sovereignty. In March 2018, then-President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, following the announcement by ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of a preliminary examination against him concerning the drug war. Last year, the House of Representatives also deliberated on House Resolutions Nos. 1393 and 1477, both advocating for the Philippine government's cooperation with the ICC in investigating former President Duterte's alleged crimes against humanity. Notably, former President Duterte, during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's first hearing on his administration's anti-narcotics campaign in October 2024, accepted responsibility for the events that transpired during the war on drugs. The ICC has been actively investigating allegations of crimes against humanity committed during this campaign. In November 2024, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel urged President Marcos to consider rejoining the ICC, viewing it as a safeguard against potential abuses by leaders and as a backstop for an ineffective justice system.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ICC DOJ PHILIPPINES DRUG WAR JUSTICE RISA HONTIVEROS RODRIGO DUTERTE
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