MANILA, Philippines – Lawyer Jude Sabio on Sunday said a formal investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged extrajudicial killings in the government war on drugs could start within six months.
"My fearless forecast is a formal investigation will be launched within six months," Sabio, complainant and legal counsel of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato was quoted as saying in an interview with ANC.
Sabio said he would communicate with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for the case against the government’s war on drugs.
Last February 8, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said a preliminary examination into the conduct of drug war has started. This is not the same as a preliminary investigation in criminal proceedings.
The preliminary examination is intended to determine whether the communication of supposed violations of government security forces under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is within the court’s jurisdiction.
The preliminary examination would also cover Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Sabio clarified that he does not intend "to overthrow Duterte" as the government and its supporters allege of critics. He said is just against the killings and is willing to go after people behind the killings.
The lawyer filed a communication against Duterte and 11 other government officials before the ICC in April 2017. He accused Duterte of being a "mass murderer" and asked the international tribunal to prosecute him over his involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad.
Sabio explained that many people contributed to bringing the allegations to the ICC.
In June, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo party-list) also filed a supplemental communication against Duterte before the ICC, urging the international court to look into the allegations against Duterte.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque previously said there is no reason for the ICC to probe the government’s drug war.
Roque has also said he does not expect the allegations to prosper.
"[Preliminary examination] only means that the prosecutor is studying whether to conduct a preliminary investigation. And based on the experience of other countries, Colombia, it took 13 years before the preliminary examination is completed," he said Sunday. – Rosette Adel