The Hague, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally requested the Philippine police to cooperate and provide testimonies and documents related to ongoing investigations into allegations of serious human rights violations during the rule of the former Philippine president.
According to informed sources, the court aims to hear testimonies from former officers and security officials and gather detailed information about security operations carried out as part of the so-called “war on drugs.” International human rights reports indicate that these operations resulted in the extrajudicial killings of thousands of people.
This move comes despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the court maintains its jurisdiction over crimes suspected of having been committed before the withdrawal. This legally allows investigations to continue.
Conversely, the court’s request has sparked widespread controversy within the Philippines, with opinions ranging from calls for cooperation with international justice to political reservations that view the move as an infringement on national sovereignty and interference in internal affairs.
This step represents a new development in the case. It comes as the ICC insists on completing the collection of evidence and hearing testimonies, paving the way for legal decisions that could bring the Philippine case back to the forefront of international attention.
