Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Sunday argued that letting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the country to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings during the implementation of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs is not a surrender of sovereignty but an exercise of it.
“If we believe in the rule of law, then we must let ICC come in,” Lagman said.
He also contends that allowing ICC to investigate does not compromise national sovereignty.
For his part, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante believed that allowing the ICC entry into the country only shows transparency and will do good for our government.
“By allowing ICC to come, it’s telling the world na wala tayong tinatago dito,” (that we have nothing to hide here) Abante stated.
Abante who also chairs the House Committee on Human Rights emphasizes the desire to showcase the functioning justice system within the country.
“Gusto lang nating ipakita sa ICC at sa buong mundo na rin na gumagana ang ating justice system,” Abante said.
However, the lawmaker insisted that they cannot prosecute in the country.
“They can come in and investigate and even ask questions sa family of the victims pero they cannot prosecute here,” Abante clarified.
Lagman filed House Resolution 1482, while Representatives Abante and Ramon Guitterez filed House Resolution 1477, both aiming to allow the ICC entry into the country.
The Philippines withdrew its ICC membership in 2017 following an investigation into alleged “crimes against humanity” related to casualties in the government’s war on drugs, as ordered by then-President Rodrigo Duterte. With Maricel Cruz
