PH urged to cooperate with ICC probe on drug war | ABS-CBN
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PH urged to cooperate with ICC probe on drug war
PH urged to cooperate with ICC probe on drug war
Willard Cheng,
ABS-CBN News
Published Feb 01, 2023 05:28 PM PHT
MANILA -- Senior embassy officials of Canada on Wednesday urged the Philippine government to cooperate with the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the drug war of the Duterte administration.
MANILA -- Senior embassy officials of Canada on Wednesday urged the Philippine government to cooperate with the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the drug war of the Duterte administration.
Speaking to selected journalists during a briefing on its Indo-Pacific strategy, the officials stressed the importance of accountability, pointing out that while the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, it is still accountable for actions that preceded the withdrawal and that ICC still has legal jurisdiction.
Speaking to selected journalists during a briefing on its Indo-Pacific strategy, the officials stressed the importance of accountability, pointing out that while the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, it is still accountable for actions that preceded the withdrawal and that ICC still has legal jurisdiction.
They said the Philippines must abide by international law, especially if the country believes in upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the matter of its maritime disputes with China.
They said the Philippines must abide by international law, especially if the country believes in upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the matter of its maritime disputes with China.
Canada has made human rights an important part of its foreign policy, leveraging its leadership in multilateral institutions to support regional action on human rights as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Canada has made human rights an important part of its foreign policy, leveraging its leadership in multilateral institutions to support regional action on human rights as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
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“If the Philippines believes in upholding international law including things like UNCLOS, for example, then the Philippines must also abide by international law,” the embassy officials said.
“If the Philippines believes in upholding international law including things like UNCLOS, for example, then the Philippines must also abide by international law,” the embassy officials said.
“Yes, the Philippines withdrew by proper procedure in 2019 from the Rome Statute. (But) it is still accountable for all the actions that preceded its withdrawal and the ICC still has legal jurisdiction. We believe accountability for actions is important," they said.
“Yes, the Philippines withdrew by proper procedure in 2019 from the Rome Statute. (But) it is still accountable for all the actions that preceded its withdrawal and the ICC still has legal jurisdiction. We believe accountability for actions is important," they said.
"It is not for us to make determinations about whether the ICC should or should not. They have legal expertise, and the ICC has used that expertise and come to the conclusion that investigations underway here do not satisfy the need. They have not seen evidence of the kinds of investigative actions that they would credit to say, ‘Okay, the Philippines has got this'.”
"It is not for us to make determinations about whether the ICC should or should not. They have legal expertise, and the ICC has used that expertise and come to the conclusion that investigations underway here do not satisfy the need. They have not seen evidence of the kinds of investigative actions that they would credit to say, ‘Okay, the Philippines has got this'.”
“We can’t have support for UNCLOS on the one hand, and then not meet your obligations on the other. So is that selective?” they asked.
“We can’t have support for UNCLOS on the one hand, and then not meet your obligations on the other. So is that selective?” they asked.
The diplomats also stressed the importance of holding Canada up to its “own expectations” and standards as it vowed to strengthen international assistance, including in supporting efforts toward democracy, inclusivity, accountable governance and sustained economic growth, and helping key countries in the region as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The diplomats also stressed the importance of holding Canada up to its “own expectations” and standards as it vowed to strengthen international assistance, including in supporting efforts toward democracy, inclusivity, accountable governance and sustained economic growth, and helping key countries in the region as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
On Jan. 26, the ICC resumed its investigation into the bloody drug war and Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines, saying Manila's efforts to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines were not satisfactory.
On Jan. 26, the ICC resumed its investigation into the bloody drug war and Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines, saying Manila's efforts to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines were not satisfactory.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Read More:
Canada
Canadian embassy
Philippines
war on drugs
drug war
ICC
ICC probe
International Criminal Court
ICC investigation
Duterte drug war
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