NEWS

24

ICC INVESTIGATION INTO DRUG KILLINGS A CRUCIAL

MOMENT FOR JUSTICE

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
QUOTE
8 February 2018

Responding to today’s news that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will open a preliminary
examination into the “war on drugs” in the Philippines, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director of
Southeast Asia and the Pacific said:

“Today’s announcement marks a crucial moment for justice and accountability in the Philippines and offer a
glimmer of hope to victims of the shocking atrocities committed in the government’s so called ‘war on drugs’.

“The crimes that have been committed since President Duterte took office meet the threshold of crimes against
humanity. Unfortunately, the Philippine authorities have shown themselves both unwilling and unable to bring the
perpetrators to justice and the real hope for victims now lies with the ICC.

“This announcement is a warning to leaders around the world that those who order or incite crimes against
humanity including murder will not be able to get away with it, and will be subject to investigation under
international law.”

Background

On 8 February 2018, Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced that the ICC is
opening a preliminary investigation into the situation in the Philippines.

In January 2017, and again in December 2017, Amnesty International recommended that unless Philippine
authorities took key steps to end drug-related killings the ICC should open a preliminary examination into the
crimes.

The organization called for an immediate end to extrajudicial executions, plus an end to the incitement and
encouragement of such killings by high-ranking officials, including the President. Amnesty also urged the
authorities to launch an impartial and efficient investigation into all suspected unlawful killings. However, the
Philippine authorities have so far almost completely failed to heed of these calls.