A US bill designed to protect allies from International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations, while stalled, has raised serious concerns about its potential to hinder the ICC's probe into Rodrigo Duterte's drug war in the Philippines. Experts warn that the bill's broad language and threat of sanctions could have a chilling effect on human rights work in the country.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Rodrigo Duterte 's drug war and the Davao Death Squad faces a significant setback due to a US bill that, while stalled, has raised concerns about its chilling effect on human rights work in the Philippines . The bill, which narrowly failed to advance in the US Senate, aims to protect individuals deemed to be allies of the United States from ICC investigations.
Although initially intended to shield Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the bill's broad language extends its reach to encompass individuals from countries like the Philippines, which are major non-NATO allies and non-members of the ICC. \Experts warn that even if the bill doesn't become law, its mere existence casts a shadow of fear over human rights organizations operating in the Philippines. The threat of potential sanctions, including financial restrictions and travel bans, could deter individuals and organizations from cooperating with the ICC investigation. This could hinder the court's ability to gather crucial evidence and pursue justice for alleged crimes committed during Duterte's presidency.\Dino de Leon, director at Human Rights and People Empowerment Center and lawyer of former senator Leila de Lima, expressed concerns that the bill could lead to a reduction in US-sourced funding for Philippine-based human rights organizations. He argued that this would further weaken the already vulnerable human rights sector in the Philippines, which is grappling with a powerful Duterte administration. Moreover, the threat of sanctions could also induce a change in behavior among Philippine justice officials, potentially discouraging them from cooperating with the ICC investigation.
International Criminal Court Philippines Rodrigo Duterte Drug War Human Rights US Sanctions
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