By Jeffrey Damicog
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) believes that the (ICC) has no jurisdiction to conduct a preliminary examination against President Rodrigo Duterte and other government officials over allegations of crimes against humanity.
The entrance of the International Criminal Court (ICC). (REUTERS/Jerry Lampen / MANILA BULLETIN)
OSG spokesperson, lawyer Erik Dy, pointed out the ICC cannot replace the country’s courts.
"The ICC may only exercise jurisdiction where domestic courts are incapable of carrying out the proper proceedings," Dy said in a statement.
"There are adequate laws and remedies in our country to address the issue of alleged extra-judicial killings," the lawyer pointed out.
Dy reminded that “petitions against the administration’s War on Drugs are now pending for resolution before the Supreme Court."
"This negates the need for the ICC to take cognizance of the matter," he stressed.
The OSG issued the statement after the Office of the President received notification that the ICC would conduct a preliminary examination into the allegations of crimes against humanity against Duterte and 11 other government officials.
International criminal law prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that the examination will be conducted in order to determine whether the ICC has jurisdiction over the matter.
The examination is based on the complaint filed in April last year by lawyer Jude Sabio, the legal counsel of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato.
Sabio claimed that the President and 11 other officials were liable for murder in the government’s drive against illegal drugs where police operations resulted in the death of thousands of Filipinos.
The entrance of the International Criminal Court (ICC). (REUTERS/Jerry Lampen / MANILA BULLETIN)
OSG spokesperson, lawyer Erik Dy, pointed out the ICC cannot replace the country’s courts.
"The ICC may only exercise jurisdiction where domestic courts are incapable of carrying out the proper proceedings," Dy said in a statement.
"There are adequate laws and remedies in our country to address the issue of alleged extra-judicial killings," the lawyer pointed out.
Dy reminded that “petitions against the administration’s War on Drugs are now pending for resolution before the Supreme Court."
"This negates the need for the ICC to take cognizance of the matter," he stressed.
The OSG issued the statement after the Office of the President received notification that the ICC would conduct a preliminary examination into the allegations of crimes against humanity against Duterte and 11 other government officials.
International criminal law prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that the examination will be conducted in order to determine whether the ICC has jurisdiction over the matter.
The examination is based on the complaint filed in April last year by lawyer Jude Sabio, the legal counsel of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato.
Sabio claimed that the President and 11 other officials were liable for murder in the government’s drive against illegal drugs where police operations resulted in the death of thousands of Filipinos.