DOJ chief: PH still outside ICC despite ‘assistance’
The Philippine position that it is not under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) remains despite the government’s decision to assist and protect the witnesses who will testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.
“(It’s an) International tribunal… we already chose not to pursue the cases and let the ICC pursue these cases. Given that, it becomes also our obligation to help them because we are giving up our jurisdiction for their jurisdiction,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.
“We’re working as a government, protecting people. The government has to protect people. Whether they’re witnesses for the ICC or the general populace, we try to protect the people,” he added.
Asked if the cooperation with the ICC signals the Philippines now considering its return as a member state of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC Remulla said: “That is another decision that we will have to make as a country.”
3 to 4 witnesses
“It does not mean that. But it just means that we recognize the International Criminal Court in charge of the case. Because that’s where we turned over former President Duterte. That’s all that it is,” he added.
According to the DOJ chief, the government is currently assisting three to four witnesses in the Duterte case, a number that could still increase.
Remulla also clarified that the assistance so far did not include financial aid but just “bridging the gaps” in their security.
It is “just to make sure that the witnesses are okay, that they’re functioning properly, and that they at least feel that the threats to their lives have been reduced,” he added.
