No need for International Criminal Court to meddle in the Philippines if...

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for international bodies to intervene in the human rights situation in the country if the government would show commitment to investigate killings linked to the war on drugs, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said yesterday.

The CHR called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately comply with the Supreme Court (SC) order to submit all data related to the bloody campaign against illegal drugs of the Duterte administration. 

The commission said complying with the order is a first step to ensure that the rule of law still prevails in the country. 

“We are hopeful that the SC decision will help the commission in its independent probe of cases of extrajudicial killings through information and data sharing with the PNP,” the CHR said. 

“If we can sustain development such as this, as well as expediently demonstrate that our judicial systems are functioning as they should, it will be a concrete manifestation that the state is willing and able to carry out investigation or prosecution – dispensing the need for international bodies to step in,” it added. 

The CHR made the statement amid the preliminary investigation conducted by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

The probe prompted President Duterte’s decision to withdraw from the ICC.

The CHR said the release of the drug war files could help in independent investigations on extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

The commission earlier asked the PNP to open their case folders, including police blotters, spot reports, investigation documents, forensic records, inventory reports and affidavits.

“We look forward to the PNP’s cooperation without condition on this matter,” the CHR said.

 “We believe that their swift action would allow the wheels of justice to turn faster, given the clamor for transparency and accountability for alleged human rights violations linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign,” it added. 

The CHR reiterated the need to ensure accountability for victims of the war on drugs. 

“In the spirit of due process and the rule of law, these cases need to be tried in proper courts and should not remain as mere files stacked in shelves to gather dust,” it said. 

The human rights body has called on the Department of Justice to file cases against police officers involved in so-called “nanlaban” cases.

Meanwhile, the consultative committee (Concom) created by the Duterte administration to study revision of the Constitution proposed to expand the functions of the CHR amid criticisms on its mandate, which is to protect the people against government interference.

Former chief justice and Concom member Reynato Puno said the CHR should look into the human rights violations of both government and non-government officials.  – With Robertzon Ramirez