THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged victims of alleged crimes related to the war on drugs in the Philippines to submit their views, concerns and expectations for the possible conduct of investigation.
The ICC listed on its website the avenues and processes through which the victims can submit their representations, which may be in the form of narratives, photos or videos, until August 13, 2021.
“Please also note that this is not (yet) an application process for participation in court proceedings against an accused person or for obtaining reparations before the ICC,” the ICC said.
“The process initiated by the prosecutor is limited to the submission of victims' views, concerns and expectations on the prosecutor's request to open an investigation regarding alleged murder and other crimes which are sufficiently linked to the "war on drugs" campaign as set out above,” the ICC added.
If an investigation is conducted, victims interested in applying to participate in the proceedings before the ICC and/or for reparations will have to fill in a separate application form.
On June 14, a day before her retirement, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested for the conduct of an official investigation into the alleged crimes of humanity being committed in the Philippines amid the government’s drug war from 2016 to March 2019.
Malacañang earlier reiterated that the government will not participate in the investigation of the ICC, which it described as “legally erroneous and politically motivated.” (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)