By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – The House of Representatives Quad Committee (QuadComm) will not submit its findings on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to QuadComm chairperson Robert Ace Barbers, the results of the QuadComm’s investigation would be used solely for domestic purposes since the country is not a member of the ICC.
“Hindi kami magbibigay diyan sa kanila. Kahit sila ay humingi ay hindi naman kami magbibigay sa kanila because tayo’y hindi miyembro ng ICC,” Barbers said in an interview with DZBB AM radio.
He added: “Kami ay naninindigan sa pronouncement ng ating Pangulo (Ferdinand “Bongbong) Marcos Jr.) na kung gusto nilang mag-imbestiga, they can do it on their own,” he added.
“Hindi naman sila pipigilan but they have to source their witnesses and kumuha sila ng kanilang mga documentary evidence kung saan nila kukunin,” he further said.
Barbers, however, said the QuadComm’s recommendations in its progress report have been forwarded to concerned agencies like the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.
“’Yung mga nakalap naming mga testimonial evidence at mga documentary evidence, ay sa aming paniwala, lalo na ‘yung mga binitawang salita under oath, para sa amin sa mayorya na miyembro ng QuadComm, ito ay merong bigat,” he said.
“But as far as how the courts will appreciate it, ay hindi na po namin sakop at hindi namin pwedeng pangunahan sila,” Barbers added.
The House QuadCommm recommended the filing of crimes against humanity charges against Duterte, senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald Dela Rosa, and other police officials.
The charges would be pursued under Section 6 of Republic Act 9851, known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity./PN
