THE International Criminal Court (ICC) is free to use records from ongoing congressional hearings on the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” for its investigation, according to Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, emphasized that the legislative hearings are public, making their records accessible to everyone.
“Records of such hearings would be out in the public. Anyone can use the transcript or maybe even records of the hearings,” Barbers said during Wednesday’s press conference at the House of Representatives when asked about the incoming four-panel probe that would comprehensively look into the possible connection between POGOs and crime associated with it, illegal drugs, and alleged violation of human rights during the bloody anti-drug campaign of the previous administration.
He added: “As to how they are going to use it, hindi namin sakop iyon. If the ICC would want to use this, it’s up to them kasi nga public record na ito. Kung makakatulong sa kanila o hindi, it is up to them.”
However, the chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, which has been conducting an extensive probe into drug-related extrajudicial killings during the previous administration, is against the idea of allowing the ICC to use his committee’s records.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante said he would prefer the ICC gather evidence on its own.
Abante expressed a preference for resolving the issues domestically, saying he would not allow the Committee on Human Rights to be used by the ICC for its investigations.
“Our President has made it clear that we do not recognize the ICC in the Philippines right now. So it’s up to them to investigate, but I’m not going to allow the Committee on Human Rights to be used by the ICC for their own investigation,” he declared.
According to reports, the ICC is currently gathering evidence in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to unlawful killings in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” in the Philippines.
Government data shows that more than 6,200 drug suspects have died in anti-narcotics operations from June 2016, when Duterte took office, until November 2021.
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