ICC okays investigation on crimes committed in Philippines

HAGUE, Netherlands – The International Criminal Court, ICC has granted the Prosecutor’s request to commence investigation into crimes committed between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 in the Philippines.

According to the ICC, the crimes were allegedly committed  within the jurisdiction of the Court on the territory of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign.

On 14 June 2021, the Prosecutor filed a public redacted version of the request to open an investigation, initially submitted on 24 May 2021, requesting authorisation to commence an investigation into the Situation in the Philippines, as provided for in Article 15(3) of the Rome Statute.

“Pre-Trial Chamber I composed of Judge Péter Kovács, Presiding Judge, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera, examined the Prosecutor’s request and supporting material. The Chamber also considered 204 victims’ representations received pursuant to Article 15(3) of the Statute”, the ICC said.

It added that in accordance with Article 15(4) of the Statute, the Chamber found that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, noting that specific legal element of the crime against humanity of murder under Article 7(1)(a) of the Statute has been met with respect to the killings committed throughout the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign, as well as with respect to the killings in the Davao area between 1 November 2011 and 30 June 2016.

The Chamber emphasised that, based on the facts as they emerge at the present stage and subject to proper investigation and further analysis, the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign cannot be seen as a legitimate law enforcement operation, and the killings were neither  legitimate nor as mere excesses in an otherwise legitimate operation.

“Rather, the available material indicates, to the required standard, that a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population took place pursuant to or in furtherance of a State policy, within the meaning of Article 7(1) and (2)(a) of the Statute”.

Philippines State was party to the Rome Statute since 1 November 2011, deposited a written notification of withdrawal from the Statute on 17 March 2018.

The ICC is of the view that while the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Statute took effect on 17 March 2019, the Court retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party, from 1 November 2011 up to and including 16 March 2019.

It noted that while the relevant crimes appear to have continued after this date, the Chamber noted that alleged crimes identified in the Article 15(3) Request are limited to those during the period when the Philippines was a State Party to the Statute and was bound by its provisions.