Manila Philippines — The Makabayan Bloc is calling on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allow the investigation of International Criminal Court (ICC) over the Extra Judicial Killings (EJK) of the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
As the House Committee on Human Rights begins the deliberations, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative said that the Marcos’ administration should allow the ICC to begin its investigation into the human rights violation of the War on Drugs Campaign.
“Committee hearings can only do so much. The government must decisively act to provide justice for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime’s brutal drug war,” said Brosas.
The lawmaker also said that the ICC investigation will help to held those accountable behind the abuse of human rights during the height of the Duterte’s war on drug campaign.
“Many women have been widowed, and children orphaned due to these senseless killings. The government has an obligation to ensure that their cries for justice are heard and addressed,” added Brosas.
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The relatives of victims of EJK, together with their legal team also appeared at the hearing to testify for the previous administration’s Oplan Tokhang.
On the second day of the hearing, Congress summoned Former President Duterte, and former Philippine National Police Chief and now Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa.
As many as 20,322 alleged drug suspects were killed because of Oplan Tokhang in the first 17 months of the Duterte administration, which equates to 40 people being killed every day.
The Philippines government withdraws from the Rome Statute in March 2018, but the ICC’s non-intervention in the country became effective in March 2019.
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