More lawmakers expressed openness to allowing the International Criminal Court to use the findings of the House Committee on Human Rights’ probe into the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) related to the bloody war on drugs during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon, Assistant Majority Leader Ernesto Dionisio Jr. of Manila and House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairman Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said the public nature of the hearings allows the ICC to reference and use the information as needed in its own probe into the alleged crimes against humanity during Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
The House leaders echoed the position of Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, who said the findings of the human rights panel could serve as evidence in the ICC probe.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier said the ICC prosecutor can interview persons of interest in its investigation, while Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said the country is duty-bound to help Interpol in case it serves an arrest warrant against Duterte and others named in the ICC probe.
“We respect Interpol’s actions 99.9 percent of the time…If a problem arises, they (ICC) will bring it to Interpol. We are members of Interpol, and we do not block any movement of Interpol unless a policy contradicts our international commitments. The future issue at hand now is that if a warrant of arrest is issued – it’s Interpol’s job to serve it, and we have a duty to Interpol,” Remulla said.
The House committee on human rights, chaired by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., has been conducting an extensive probe into drug-related EJKs during the previous administration.
Suarez said the results of the House inquiry, as public records, are accessible to anyone, including international bodies like the ICC.
Barbers said the detailed records and transcripts from the EJK hearings are available for the ICC and others to access.
He said the ICC investigators might find useful leads or information within these public records that could aid in their probe.
Government records show that some 6,200 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration but human rights organizations say that the actual number is closer to 30,000.
