Solgen Guevarra: Challenging ICC 'drug war' probe an option

The seat of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands is seen in this photo release by the International Commission of Jurists, a non-governmental organization advocating for human rights.

ICJ / Released

MANILA, Philippines — Challenging the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction to probe into the Duterte administration's "drug war" is among the options government lawyers are considering, the Office of the Solicitor General said Monday morning. 

This comes after the ICC invited the Philippines to provide "observations" on the prosecutor’s request to allow the resumption of its preliminary investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in relation to the bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

In a text message to reporters, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra — justice secretary to former president Rodrigo Duterte — said the government is still considering its options "such as challenging the jurisdiction of the ICC [and the] admissibility of the case, or continuing to leave our lines of communication with the ICC open." 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/07/18/2196210/solgen-guevarra-challenging-icc-drug-war-probe-option