The International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved the request of its prosecutor to resume the probe into the Philippines’ war on drugs during the time of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Following a careful analysis of the materials provided by the Philippines, the Chamber is not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the Court’s investigations on the basis of the complementarity principle,” the ICC said in a statement.
The ICC stated that it is acting on complaints raised during Duterte’s administration’s drug war. Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa is among the respondents in the case.
President Bongbong Marcos sees no need for the ICC to investigate in the country.
“After having examined the submissions and materials of the Philippines Government, and of the ICC Prosecutor, as well as the victims’ observations, the Chamber concluded that the various domestic initiatives and proceedings, assessed collectively, do not amount to tangible, concrete, and progressive investigative steps in a way that would sufficiently mirror the Court’s investigation,” the ICC further said.
