By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Barring unforeseen circumstances, the International Criminal Court (ICC) might issue arrest warrants for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte in connection with the charges of “crimes against humanity” over the war on drugs that human rights group claimed to have victimized 27,000 to 30,000 individuals.
This was revealed by former mutiny leader and ex-senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV who boldly predicted that the arrest warrant could be issued by June or July this year against FPRRD while VP Sara might be included in the second or succeeding batch of subjects for whom the ICC would issue arrest warrants.
“When I got this information, ano daw, late 2nd quarter lalabas yung warrant. So puwede na nating i-stretch ‘yun, sabihing middle of the year, June-July. ‘Dun mangyayari ‘yan,” Trillanes said in an interview on One News’ “Storycon” Thursday (2 May 2024).
He added that the waiting game is on for the ICC’s release of an arrest warrant for the feisty ex-president.
“The first batch isa lang: si (Rodrigo) Duterte lang, the father. Tapos second batch na yung ibang principal actors. Yun po ang aking pagkakaalam,” Trillanes said, citing information from people who are reportedly privy to the developments at the ICC.
According to a Rappler report on July 4, 2022, at least 6,252 individuals were killed in police operations under Duterte’s war on drugs, his administration’s flagship campaign, as of May 31, 2022.
This number does not include victims of vigilante-style killings or extra-judicial killings (EJKs), which human rights groups estimate to be between 27,000 and 30,000.
(el Amigo/MNM)
