De Lima: Gov t accepted ICC jurisdiction by seeking procedural remedy

After repeatedly claiming that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the country, Senator Leila de Lima on Friday said the Duterte administration has indirectly submitted to the court’s jurisdiction by availing of its procedural remedy.

“If the Duterte administration truly believes the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, it should have just ceased from availing of the ICC procedural remedy whereby the country situs of investigation can request for deferment of the investigation,” the senator said in a statement.

“However, by availing of this ICC procedural remedy, it has thereby submitted to the legality of said procedure and, hence, of jurisdiction,” she added.

De Lima said the administration could have just ignored the ICC and its processes.

“That is what Duterte was bragging about all along but, at the final moment, his own government eventually gave in,” she added.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said the court has temporarily suspended the probe into the killings linked to the drug war as it assesses the administration’s claims that it is doing its own investigation.

In a letter to Khan, the Philippine government cited the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) referral to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of 52 cases in which the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service found administrative liability on the part of the concerned personnel.

Khan, however, noted that providing evidence is in accordance with Rule 53 of the ICC Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

De Lima stressed the government has accepted the investigation by seeking  remedy provided in the ICC procedure.

“They would have just ignored the ICC and its processes altogether. That is what Duterte was bragging about all along but, at the final moment, his own government eventually gave in,” she added.

Duterte earlier said that he would only face a Philippine court and if convicted, would choose to be imprisoned in Muntinlupa.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News

De Lima: Gov t accepted ICC jurisdiction by seeking procedural remedy
Source: Filipino Viral News PH