Western Threats Of ICC Indiction Over War On Drugs Disregards By President Duterte
On Monday (November 28, 2016), President Duterte disregards Western threats of International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of his war on drugs.
The anti-illegal drug campaign of President Duterte received criticisms from United States (US), European Union (EU), and human rights group amid Extrajudicial Killings (EJK) in the country. The war on drugs in the Philippines becomes as one of the most controversial issues worldwide.
Duterte takes over the country’s highest position last June 30, 2016. Since he took office, there are more than 2, 500 people lose their lives on the anti-illegal drug campaign, according to the figure shown by the authorities.
Most of EJK victims was killed during the police counter-narcotics operations but the rest was suspected victims of vigilante killings. This incident raises the concern of several human right groups and urges the president to stop the drug war.
The perpetrators of the incidents must be prosecuted by Hague-Based Tribunal, who has the authority, said by an ICC prosecutor last month. In a speech, President Duterte disregards the complaint of ICC and he also said that he’s not afraid to be in jail.
The Philippine president mentioned that U.S did not sign the Rome Statute to protect the former U.S President George W. Bush. “America itself is threatening to jail me in the International Criminal Court,” said by Duterte quoted by Interaksyon. “It is not a signatory of that body. Why? Because at that time, they were afraid Bush would face it.”
Previously, Russia withdraws itself from ICC and this President Duterte might follow Vladimir Putin’s move. He also described ICC as useless because the West has been failed to address the lawlessness and the drug problem in the country. On Monday, Duterte also said that he sees nothing wrong with threatening to kill, in order to protect the country.
