Families of drug war victims are pressing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to continue its investigation into the Duterte regime’s controversial anti-drug campaign, as they have expressed doubts that the cases will move forward under the Marcos administration. .
In a 20-page report dated May 22, the ICC said it received representations echoing the views and concerns of 350 individual victims and 165 families regarding the ongoing appeals proceedings.
The consultation process between the families, which was carried out by its Victim Participation and Reparation Section, concluded that they “unanimously and strongly urge” the ICC to continue with its January 26 decision authorizing the office of the court prosecutor to resume his investigation into the bloody drug campaign.
The victims also alleged that the war on drugs “continues” under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The ICC said the victims also rejected the government’s grounds for appeal, raising the need for a “genuine investigation” to obtain justice.
The Philippine justice system, the victims said, continued to show “no real investigation” even seven years after filing some of the cases.
“Justice and accountability in the Philippines remain largely elusive and victims and families of victims face enormous difficulties seeking accountability using available domestic legal remedies,” the report read, citing the words of the victims
Victims cited the following as evidence of the “fragility” of the local judicial system:
lack of effective remedies for victims
lack of access to relevant official documents or procedures
falsification of death certificates
prolonged efforts to deter and prevent victims from pursuing their cases
promotion of alleged perpetrators by authorities in lieu of investigation into potential criminal conduct
They stressed that Philippine government agencies also showed “resistance” to attempts to gain recognition that drug-related killings were not regulated by law.
“The lack of a government investigation into the widespread killings and abuses significantly affects the rights of victims and, in particular, denies them the opportunity to identify, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of these grave crimes against humanity,” according to the document. .
The families also criticized earlier statements by authorities that the victims were “collateral damage” in alleged police operations.
The families of the victims also expressed concern for their lives, saying that the police “continue to harass and intimidate the victims in their own homes and communities.”
In April, the ICC said that former President Rodrigo Duterte “encourages” the thousands of murders and other crimes related to his crackdown on illegal drugs.
He also rejected the Philippine government’s claim that murders and other crimes related to the anti-drug campaign are of “marginal severity.”
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/25/icc-drug-war-victims-marcos.html
Category: Philippines
