Recent testimony by a former police colonel has reignited calls for an ICC investigation into Duterte’s drug war, with grave implications for political figures and the quest for accountability.
At a Glance
- Colonel Royina Garma alleges $17,000 was paid to police for extrajudicial killings.
- ICC is urged to investigate Duterte’s crackdown, linked to 30,000 deaths.
- Duterte’s aide, Bong Go, implicated but denies allegations.
- Philippine sovereignty issues surface as President Marcos Jr. resists ICC involvement.
Colonel’s Testimony and Its Implications
Royina Garma, a former police colonel, provided testimony that could potentially reshape the ongoing investigation into the Philippine drug war during Duterte’s presidency. Garma alleged that police were financially motivated to engage in extrajudicial killings, with offers reaching $17,000 per suspect. This new evidence comes amidst calls for the International Criminal Court to delve deeper into the policies that purportedly resulted in the loss of approximately 30,000 lives.
Garma’s revelations suggest a deeply entrenched system of rewards for killings rather than arrests, underpinning what was known as the “Davao Model.” This model involved structured payments at various levels: incentives for killings, financial support for operations, and refunds for operational outlays. Her testimony is considered some of the most substantial claims against Duterte, demanding a stringent international examination for accountability.
Governance and Justice: A Sovereignty Debate
The call for the ICC’s intervention has met resistance from current Philippine leadership. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized handling the cases internally, urging that national courts address the allegations to maintain sovereignty. The complex relationship between the Marcos and Duterte families may affect the political discourse surrounding these prosecutions. Tensions have been evident, with implications affecting both domestic politics and international relations.
“It’s not right for outsiders, foreigners to tell us who our police should investigate, who our police should arrest, who our police should imprison,” he told reporters in Tagalog. “That’s not right. Only Filipinos should do that. We have our police, anyway. We have our National Bureau of Investigation, anyway. We have our Justice Department. They can do that job.”
The ICC investigation, which resumed in January 2023, has faced obstacles but remains a pivotal point of interest for human rights advocates. Kristina Conti, involved with the ICC, has underscored the urgency of providing evidence to speed up proceedings. Nonetheless, the probe’s progress is complicated by Duterte’s refusal to cooperate, as he has withdrawn the Philippines from the ICC jurisdiction since March 2019.
Future Prospects of the ICC’s Role
As the ICC continues its efforts, speculations about the possible issuance of an arrest warrant for Duterte loom large. This potential legal maneuver is against the backdrop of mounting pressure for justice related to accusations of crimes against humanity from his anti-drug campaign. Maria Kristina Conti has expressed hope that a warrant could be issued this year, though she acknowledges the complexities involved in its enforcement.
“We have the idea that things have been kept in confidence because there is a probability of arrest – because the ICC recently have been announcing requests for and issuance of warrants in contexts where it was impossible to enforce,” Conti said on Thursday. –
The revelations shared by Garma are deemed pivotal, potentially guiding the path toward justice for tens of thousands of victims and reaffirming the need for a comprehensive review by international bodies. As developments unfold, the world’s attention remains firmly fixed on how these proceedings will shape the future of governance and human rights in the Philippines.
