THE coalition of the country’s largest labor groups called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to accept the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on the fatalities in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
“We hope that this administration will listen to our unsolicited advice and take the necessary actions to address this issue. It is only through accountability and justice that we can truly build a better society,” Nagkaisa labor coalition said in a statement on Sunday.
It stressed that ICC intervention in the cases is necessary due to the “failure” of the domestic justice system to prosecute the people responsible for the alleged “extra judicial killings” (EJK) during the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“It [ICC probe] will strengthen respect for human rights in the country as well, as it is a legitimate exercise of the ICC of its mandate under the Rome Statute, to which the Philippines was once a signatory.”
The country withdrew from the ICC jurisdiction in 2019.
Nagkaisa noted the ICC can still look into cases from 2011 to 2018, while the country was still under its jurisdiction.
“That period is covered by the jurisdiction of the ICC and the Philippine government has the obligation to cooperate and bring those responsible for EJKs to the bar of justice,” Nagkaisa said.
The coalition made the pronouncements after Marcos reiterated at the weekend his position to refuse the ICC investigation, deeming it a threat to the country’s sovereignty.
The Appeal’s Chamber of the ICC granted the Philippine government’s request to extend until March 13, 2023 the period to submit its appeal brief against the probe.
Marcos maintained that actions on the alleged EJKs are sufficient.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila