THE HAGUE/MANILA, Nov 20 (Reuters) – The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended a probe at Manila’s request into suspected rights abuses during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs.
Read more at https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/icc-prosecutor-suspends-probe-into-philippines-drugs-war-2021-11-19/
Remembering per this Guardian report the enquiry only kicked into action in September, suggesting that some serious malfeasance has already been uncovered.
ICC authorises full inquiry into Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’
‘Reasonable basis’ to believe crime against humanity committed in Philippines crackdown, say judges
The international criminal court has authorised a full investigation into the Philippine president’s “war on drugs”, a breakthrough for campaigners who say the decision brings families one step closer to justice.
The ICC said in a statement that, based on the information provided to judges, the so-called war on drugs appeared to be a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population”, which took place “pursuant to or in furtherance of a state policy”. Judges had approved a request to begin the investigation into the crime against humanity of murder, it said.
Duterte rose to power promising a merciless crackdown that would rid the country of drugs. On the campaign trail he once said that there would be so many bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them. Since his election in 2016, between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations, according to data cited by the ICC.
Read more at. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/15/icc-authorises-full-inquiry-rodrigo-duterte-war-on-drugs-philippines
