Amnesty International has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigations into the war on drugs of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Make an explicit and categorical pronouncement to end war on drugs or the extrajudicial killings. Cooperate with the ICC with its investigations,” said Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines director, during the launching of the “State of the World’s Human Rights” Amnesty International Report.
Back on March 17, 2019, the Philippines officially withdrew from the International Criminal Court. The Supreme Court later ruled that Duterte’s withdrawal from the ICC was not illegal.
Olano said the Marcos Jr. administration should initiate the country’s cooperation with the ICC. He said rejoining the court would mean a show of accountability on the part of the Philippines.
Olano said Amnesty felt that the president had turned his back on human rights.
“Yung pananahimik niya says a lot…. Is he afraid of former President Duterte? Why is he not doing anything?”
The report also covered other human rights topics in the Philippines, such as impunity, repression of dissent, freedom of expression, enforced disappearances, indigenous people’s rights, and LGBT rights. – Kevin Ortiz.