‘No return to ICC despite findings by quad comm’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang rejected yesterday proposals for President Marcos to submit a House quad committee report to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the previous administration’s alleged atrocities in the war on drugs.

“The Philippines will not return to ICC. Based on this, the President is not expected to change his mind and not refer the quad comm matter to the ICC,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News yesterday, National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) adviser and former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares urged the Marcos administration to submit to the ICC the documents that were released during the quad committee hearings, including the affidavit of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma.

“Based on her revelations, she is a witness. The (ICC) prosecutor can use her (as a witness),” Colmenares said in Filipino. “The ICC case is reserved for highest officials committing the most serious crimes against humanity… Her testimony can of course be submitted to the ICC, it will be up to the ICC how to treat her.”

He noted the possibility, though, that Garma might remain a respondent even with the prosecutor using her testimony in the case.

Colmenares said Garma’s revelations have a significant implication in holding former president Rodrigo Duterte accountable in the widespread killings in connection with war on drugs.

“What colonel Garma said tied (the two elements of the crimes against humanity). He (Duterte) did not just order the killings, he ordered the initiation (of the drug war) using the Davao model. Secondly, he funded it,” said the former lawmaker.

In her testimony at the quad committee hearing last Friday, Garma bared details of the supposed plan of then president-elect Duterte to implement the drug war. She specifically provided details of the so-called Davao model, which was supposedly used to provide rewards or payments for the implementation of the drug war.

“She is an insider,” Colmenares said of Garma. “Her sworn statement can be used in the ICC, (on the case of) the crimes against humanity.”

In a