Desperate Duterte regime makes a false claim for being untouchable in the ICC
NUPL counsel in new ICC complaint says suit is strong because it was filed by victims and backed up by voluminous evidence.

President Rodrigo’s spokesman, Harry Roque, claims that the first ICC complaint filed by victims of the regime’s drug war will go nowhere because the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute.
NUPL Chairman Neri Colmenares, one of the counsels for the complainants, called out a desperate, baseless attempt to skirt accountability for thousands of extra-judicial killings. He also described Rosie’s argument as “politically and morally bankrupt.”
In a press statement, Colmenares said:
“Pres. Duterte, as a lawyer, should know that Article 127 of the ICC does not recognize withdrawal of any state until after one year from the notice of withdrawal. This rule is intended precisely to preempt dictators from self-servingly withdrawing from the ICC if a complaint is filed against them.” Malacanang’s reasoning is also a bankrupt argument because it does not even deny Pres. Duterte’s hand in the EJKs but lamely uses the withdrawal as a defense. We are optimistic that the ICC will give the complaint due course and indict Pres. Duterte.”
Colemenares said the latest case is the strongest so far.
“First, because the families of the victims filed it themselves, and also because it contains strong evidence based on sworn statements of witnesses and admissions of government authorities through their official police reports, transcripts of Pres. Duterte’s public statements, even unintended admissions in PNP’s and Malacanang ‘s accomplishment reports”.
Colmenares also dismissed the claim that the complaint violates ICC rules on complementarity, which prohibits the ICC from looking into a case which is being prosecuted in a local court.
“There is no criminal case filed or pending against Pres. Duterte in the Philippines today, therefore complementarity rules cannot be used by Pres. Duterte. Additionally, any prosecution in the Philippines will not prosper because under the Philippine justice system a President is immune from a criminal or civil charge.”
Colmenares added:
“The complainants are not claiming that the Philippine courts are not functioning. They are claiming that Pres. Duterte is immune and therefore there is no judicial remedy for them under Philippine law. Period.”
Addressing Roque, who likes to boast of his credentials as a human rights lawyer, Colmenares said:
“Kung sa iyo man mangyari ang nangyari sa kanila at pinatay ang inyong mga kaanak na parang hayop, hindi ba tama lang na hanapan mo rin ng. katarungan ang mga mahal mo sa buhay? Their husbands, sons, fathers and brothers were killed while kneeling and pleading for their lives, or lying on their backs asking the police to spare them, or in the case of Kian asking the police not to kill him as he still has homework to submit the next day.
“Hindi sila nanlaban. But all were mercilessly killed because Pres. Duterte publicly ordered the killing of suspected drug addicts or pushers.”
Colmenares urged Pres. Duterte to “answer the charges on the merits instead of claiming technical issues”.
“We ask the ICC Prosecutor to immediately admit the case for preliminary examination and ultimately indict Pres. Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Colmenares said.
