Philippines to OK ICC drug war probe in country if legal process met | ABS-CBN
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Philippines to OK ICC drug war probe in country if legal process met
Philippines to OK ICC drug war probe in country if legal process met
Kyodo News
Published Jan 18, 2024 11:51 PM PHT
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The Philippine government may allow the International Criminal Court to conduct a probe in the country regarding the deadly war on drugs during the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte if legal procedures are followed, its justice minister said Thursday.
The Philippine government may allow the International Criminal Court to conduct a probe in the country regarding the deadly war on drugs during the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte if legal procedures are followed, its justice minister said Thursday.
"We're not here to stop them because if they're not doing anything illegal, there's nothing wrong with that," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told Kyodo News in an interview, referring to the ICC's investigation into Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign that critics say disregarded human rights and left thousands dead.
"We're not here to stop them because if they're not doing anything illegal, there's nothing wrong with that," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told Kyodo News in an interview, referring to the ICC's investigation into Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign that critics say disregarded human rights and left thousands dead.
"If they're getting statements, they're getting evidence. It's okay," Remulla said of the ICC investigators. "But we have to clarify many issues, especially about procedure."
"If they're getting statements, they're getting evidence. It's okay," Remulla said of the ICC investigators. "But we have to clarify many issues, especially about procedure."
The Philippines has not been a member of the ICC since March 2019, after the Duterte administration initiated the withdrawal. It was partly for this reason that the government had objected to any ICC investigation.
The Philippines has not been a member of the ICC since March 2019, after the Duterte administration initiated the withdrawal. It was partly for this reason that the government had objected to any ICC investigation.
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But the Hague-based tribunal said it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a member from November 2011.
But the Hague-based tribunal said it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a member from November 2011.
Duterte implemented the war against illegal drugs while he was president from 2016 to 2022, with suspected drug dealers or users being victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.
Duterte implemented the war against illegal drugs while he was president from 2016 to 2022, with suspected drug dealers or users being victims of alleged extrajudicial killings.
Remulla said he had heard rumors of investigators from the ICC Office of the Prosecutor having visited or currently visiting the Philippines, expressing hope they would coordinate with his office.
Remulla said he had heard rumors of investigators from the ICC Office of the Prosecutor having visited or currently visiting the Philippines, expressing hope they would coordinate with his office.
"We will have to deal with several legal implications of the action of the ICC in the Philippines, and it might have to end up in the Supreme Court of the country," he said, noting that "procedural matters have to be observed to make sure that the rights of people are respected."
"We will have to deal with several legal implications of the action of the ICC in the Philippines, and it might have to end up in the Supreme Court of the country," he said, noting that "procedural matters have to be observed to make sure that the rights of people are respected."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte, is opposed to the ICC investigation, citing the capability of local authorities to conduct any probe. However, he did not rule out the possibility of the Philippines joining the ICC again, saying in November that the idea is "under study."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte, is opposed to the ICC investigation, citing the capability of local authorities to conduct any probe. However, he did not rule out the possibility of the Philippines joining the ICC again, saying in November that the idea is "under study."
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Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two
Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two
Agence France-Presse
Published Feb 20, 2025 12:58 AM PHT
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Palestinian militant group Hamas fighters secure an area before handing over two Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis on February 1, 2025, as part of fourth hostage-prisoner exchange. Eyad Baba, AFP/File
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GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories -- Hamas signaled on Wednesday that it was willing to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during the next phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories -- Hamas signaled on Wednesday that it was willing to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during the next phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Israel and Hamas are currently in the process of implementing phase one of the fragile Gaza truce, which has held since taking effect on January 19 despite accusations of violations on both sides.
Israel and Hamas are currently in the process of implementing phase one of the fragile Gaza truce, which has held since taking effect on January 19 despite accusations of violations on both sides.
Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.
Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.
"We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase," senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.
"We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase," senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.
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He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.
He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.
Nunu said this step was meant "to confirm our seriousness and complete readiness to move forward in resolving this issue, as well as to continue steps towards cementing the ceasefire and achieving a sustainable truce".
Nunu said this step was meant "to confirm our seriousness and complete readiness to move forward in resolving this issue, as well as to continue steps towards cementing the ceasefire and achieving a sustainable truce".
Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.
Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.
Wednesday's offer came after Israel and Hamas announced a deal for the return of all six remaining living hostages eligible for release under phase one in a single swap this weekend.
Wednesday's offer came after Israel and Hamas announced a deal for the return of all six remaining living hostages eligible for release under phase one in a single swap this weekend.
After the completion of the first phase, 58 hostages will remain in Gaza.
After the completion of the first phase, 58 hostages will remain in Gaza.
- 'Held onto hope' -
Hamas also agreed on Tuesday to return the bodies of eight dead hostages in two groups this week and next, including the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, who have become national symbols in Israel of the hostages' ordeal.
Hamas also agreed on Tuesday to return the bodies of eight dead hostages in two groups this week and next, including the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, who have become national symbols in Israel of the hostages' ordeal.
The boys' father Yarden Bibas was taken hostage separately on October 7, 2023, and was released alive during an earlier hostage-prisoner swap.
The boys' father Yarden Bibas was taken hostage separately on October 7, 2023, and was released alive during an earlier hostage-prisoner swap.
While Hamas said Shiri Bibas and her boys were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed this, and many supporters remain unconvinced of their deaths, including members of the Bibas family.
While Hamas said Shiri Bibas and her boys were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed this, and many supporters remain unconvinced of their deaths, including members of the Bibas family.
"I ask that no one eulogize my family just yet. We have held onto hope for 16 months, and we are not giving up now," the boys' aunt, Ofri Bibas, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night following Hamas's announcement.
"I ask that no one eulogize my family just yet. We have held onto hope for 16 months, and we are not giving up now," the boys' aunt, Ofri Bibas, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night following Hamas's announcement.
Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of four hostages are due to be returned on Thursday, although they have not officially named them.
Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of four hostages are due to be returned on Thursday, although they have not officially named them.
The national forensic institute in Tel Aviv has mobilized 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.
The national forensic institute in Tel Aviv has mobilized 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.
Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, of whom 70 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, of whom 70 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
The October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
The October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
© Agence France-Presse
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