By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid rumors that International Criminal Court (ICC) probers are already here in the country to investigate the “bloody drug war” of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III couldn’t care less.
He said there’s nothing wrong with the ICC probers’ entry into the country but hastened to add that they should coordinate with the government.
“What kind of investigation is that kung hindi mo kinakausap yung government or state you are investigating?” Pimentel asked.
He added that If indeed the ICC investigators are here, they should talk to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for its internal investigation on the previous administration’s rights violations.
“Dapat kausapin nila ang CHR, what are the official figures for this period of time, ilan ba ang extrajudicial killings per government figures, ilan naman yung with explanations na mga killings. Dapat kausapin nila CHR on human rights complaints,” Pimentel said.
According to the estimate of government authorities, more than 6,252 people have been gunned down by the police and “unknown assailants” since Duterte won as president in 2016 but human rights advocates disputed the number, saying it could reach as high as 30,000 fatalies in what they call extra-judicial killings (EJKs).
Pimentel said he heard of the information on ICC probers’ entry in the country from former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Ang info ko rin ay coming from Secretary Harry Roque. Nabasa at napanood ko lang. But my point is – anong masama doon? So what? Personally, I find nothing objectionable kung nandito na sila,” he added.
(el Amigo/MNM)
