MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is reportedly investigating Senator Ronald Dela Rosa and former police chief Oscar Albayalde for their involvement in the Philippines’ controversial war on drugs.

This follows the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial for crimes against humanity related to the brutal anti-drug campaign.

According to Kristina Conti, an assistant to ICC counsel, both Dela Rosa and Albayalde have been named in ICC documents as key figures responsible for the thousands of deaths during the 2016-2022 campaign.

The Philippine government has stated that it will cooperate with any future arrest warrants from the ICC via Interpol, although Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the situation could differ if the individuals voluntarily surrender.

Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018, oversaw the launch of “Oplan Tokhang,” a program that led to extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders.

Meanwhile, Albayalde, who succeeded Dela Rosa in 2018, continued the war on drugs, a.k.a. “Tokhang Reloaded,” amid allegations of corruption and involvement in drug-related anomalies.

Both men face increasing scrutiny, with the possibility of more arrests as the investigation progresses.

Despite the Philippine government’s refusal to cooperate with the ICC after its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, ICC officials remain confident in the evidence and ongoing legal proceedings, suggesting that more individuals could be implicated as the case unfolds.

Official records by the Philippine National Police claim at least 6,000 Filipinos perished in Duterte’s infamous War on Drugs while human rights groups claim the number of deaths under the bloody anti-drug campaign could be within the vicinity of around 30,000.

ia/mnm

MANILA — The Philippines has reaffirmed its position on the International Criminal Court (ICC), with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarifying on Friday (24 Jan 2025) that the country’s withdrawal from the ICC remains in effect.

Speaking at a press briefing, Bersamin explained that while the Philippines is no longer under ICC jurisdiction, it will still cooperate if the ICC makes requests through Interpol.

He emphasized that any Interpol request for the arrest or delivery of an individual subject to ICC jurisdiction will be addressed by the government.

“If the ICC acts through Interpol, we will respond,” said Bersamin. “Our position is that we are not under ICC jurisdiction, but this does not mean we will ignore an Interpol request. We respect the role of Interpol.”

Bersamin’s comments followed statements from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who suggested the Philippines might be open to dialogue with the ICC. Remulla hinted at potential cooperation, stating, “We will talk to them soon in a spirit of comity, and we can cooperate in certain areas.”

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, in 2019 after the court began investigating President Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.

Government reports indicate at least 6,000 deaths in police operations, while human rights groups estimate 30,000 fatalities, including those attributed to vigilante killings.

Former President Duterte has consistently defended his drug war and challenged the ICC to investigate him for crimes against humanity.

elamigo/mnm

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Amid rumors of his health condition, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has strongly chided the International Criminal Court (ICC) following allegations by former human rights lawyer Harry Roque that ICC investigators are already in the country to probe the “bloody drug war” under the previous Duterte administration that thousands of suspected drug pushers were reportedly slain in extra-judicial killings (EJKs).

Remulla reminded the ICC that the Philippines is no longer a member of the international body following the order of then-President Duterte to withdraw the country’s membership.

“It is their responsibility and duty to make contact with the DOJ by the principles of international law,” he said.

Surprisingly, the DOJ chief was seemingly oblivious that on November 24, President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. declared that the return of the Philippines to the ICC is “under study.”

On November 29, the House Committees on Human Rights and Justice after two joint meetings adopted the proposed House resolutions urging the government to cooperate with the ICC in its investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war.

Remulla made his statement after learning from Roque, once a noted human rights lawyer who later served as presidential spokesman under the Duterte administration, claiming that ICC investigators have already been in the Philippines.

“They have to respect us. They have to establish a protocol. They have to deal with the duly constituted authorities of the country for this to happen,” Remulla quipped.

(IAmigo/MNM)

Photo courtesy of Ideas for Peace

Isang mainit na debate ngayon ng buong sambayanan ang usapin tungkol sa Rome Statute ng International Criminal Court (ICC) na nilisan ng bansa ang akreditasyon nito noong nakalipas na administrasyong Duterte matapos itong umangan ng kasong “crimes against humanity” dahil sa kanyang madugong “WAR ON DRUG” program na kumitil sa buhay ng 12,000 katao, ayon sa Human Rights Watch Group.

May mga nagsasabi ring lagpas diyan ang bilang ng mga napatay partikular na sa 30,000 mula nang ilunsad ang drug war na mas kilala sa tawag na “tokhang” at “tokhang reloaded.”

Sa kasalukuyan, umabot na sa tatlo ang bilang ng mga kongresista na naghain ng petisyon sa House of Representatives upang hikayatin sina Speaker Martin Romualdez at Presidente Bongbong Marcos na ibalik ang katayuan ng Pilipinas sa Rome Statute o ICC.

Kasunod nito ay naglabas ng saloobin si Sen. Bato dela Rosa, na siyang PNP chief noon ni Duterte, na kakailanganin muna ng approval ng Senado bago muling makapasok ang ICC upang mag-imbestiga sa bansa ngunit agad naman itong binalasa nina Senate President Migz Zubiri, dating SP Franklin Drilon at Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.

Anila, hindi na kailangan pa ng pahintulot ng Senado ang usaping ito kundi nakasalalay lamang ito sa desisyon ni Pangulong Marcos kung papayagang makapasok o hindi ang ICC at mag-imbestiga sa madugong war on drugs ni FPRRD mula 2016-2022.

Sinikap din kunin ng Maharlika NuMedia ang pulso ng taumbayan na siya naming inilalahad ngayon upang kayo na ang humusga kung dapat na bang papasukin ang ICC sa bansa o hindi at matuldukan na ang usaping ito.

(Benjamin Cuaresma/AINIGO/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa stated on Monday (27 Nov 2023) that the Philippines must undergo a formal process before it can rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This statement came in response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s mention of the possibility of the country returning to the ICC.

“If you want to rejoin, it will still go through a process,” Dela Rosa remarked.

“After the president’s ratification, it has to be concurred by the Senate with a two-thirds vote. So that’s the process. Back to zero, back to square one,” he added.

The senator underscored that deviating from the established process would be unconstitutional.

Marcos had previously mentioned that the Philippines’ return to the ICC is currently under consideration.

“Should we return under the fold of the ICC? So that is again under study. So we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are,” the President stated.

The ICC is currently investigating the war on drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, during which Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police chief.

(ai/mnm)

The leadership of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in the Philippines is optimistic that the ongoing crisis in Gaza will not have a significant impact on the trade relationship between the Philippines and Israel, although a temporary slowdown in the exchange of goods is anticipated.

In a recent interview, Jesus Varela, the Director General of ICC Philippines, emphasized the resilience of the Manila-Tel Aviv trade relationship, which has strengthened over the years.

He also noted the presence of Israeli companies in the Philippines’ technology sector and expressed confidence in the future of bilateral economic activity. ICC Philippines is actively communicating with representatives of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, further bolstering expectations of continued economic cooperation.

In 2022, bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries exceeded USD 534 million, marking a historic high in their 65-year trade relations. Varela expressed hope for a swift resolution to the crisis and called for international intervention to prevent its escalation into neighboring countries, as this could lead to more severe global economic repercussions.

Varela also expressed concerns about the potential impact of a prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict on global crude oil prices. He highlighted that conflicts in the region historically make oil markets volatile, leading to higher oil prices, which is unfavorable for all.

While Varela affirmed that existing Israeli investments in the Philippines are secure, he stressed that a prolonged war could pose challenges for the future.

According to a recent report by Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry, exports from Israel to the Philippines increased by 94 percent in 2022, amounting to USD 340 million, while imports from the Philippines to Israel grew by 39 percent, reaching USD 193 million in the same year.

The ICC, headquartered in Paris, serves as the institutional representative of 45 million companies across over 170 countries. Its primary objectives are rule setting, dispute resolution, and policy advocacy to facilitate international business transactions.

In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressed its support for the Marcos administration’s comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety of Filipino workers in Israel. TUCP Vice President Luis Corral noted that while mass evacuations may not be immediately necessary, it is vital for Philippine authorities to solidify contingency plans and establish clear timelines in case evacuation becomes a requirement.

Approximately 30,000 overseas Filipino workers reside in Israel, and their safety remains a top priority, especially for those living near the Gaza conflict zone. (ai/mnm)