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The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into President Duterte and his "War on Drugs" campaign in the Philippines, which is accused of extrajudicial killings of over 12,000 civilians. The ICC has evidence of crimes against humanity under Duterte. However, the Duterte administration has refused cooperation with the ICC and withdrawn the Philippines from the court in 2018. Human rights groups in the Philippines are working with victims' families to bring the crimes to light, but prosecuting Duterte fully may be an arduous process without Philippine cooperation. The upcoming 2022 national election will be an opportunity for change, but claiming victory for justice remains uncertain.

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1K views2 pages

Sample Editorial Writing

The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into President Duterte and his "War on Drugs" campaign in the Philippines, which is accused of extrajudicial killings of over 12,000 civilians. The ICC has evidence of crimes against humanity under Duterte. However, the Duterte administration has refused cooperation with the ICC and withdrawn the Philippines from the court in 2018. Human rights groups in the Philippines are working with victims' families to bring the crimes to light, but prosecuting Duterte fully may be an arduous process without Philippine cooperation. The upcoming 2022 national election will be an opportunity for change, but claiming victory for justice remains uncertain.

Uploaded by

Alena Mates
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FD34

Pres. Duterte, a Man with Many Names

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Mayor of Davao….


Rodrigo Roa Duterte, 16th President of the Philipinnes
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Architect of War Against Drugs
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a mass murderer
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a runaway politician

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has once again paid a visit to the Duterte
administration with a plea to investigate the crimes committed of the said political party against
humanity under the banner of “War on Drugs”. During the six long term of President Duterte,
several changes happened around the country. First, the aggressive approach of militant in
subduing the drug influence over the country. Second, the word “dead” becoming a norm term
in the different news media. Third, the persecution of human right advocates who have voiced
out complaints against the administration. Fourth, politicians gradually unbecoming of their
position and would often opt for waterworks for every harsh complaint thrown at them. Fifth,
the constant probe of international courts of the visible crimes committed by the government
on their “fanatical” propaganda. And lastly, the evade combo of the president against the blows
of true justice.

“This cause… is the cause of all humanity” – Former Nations Secretary-General, Kofi
Annan

The ICC is an intergovernmental organization that is dedicated in investigating and


passing of warrants to individuals with the gravest of crimes especially if it concerns the
international community such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crime of
aggression. Founded in 1st of July year 2002, the court has now 123 member states that has
continuously stayed true to its mission of participating in a global fight to end impunity, to hold
those responsible accountable, and prevent such crimes be committed again.

Since December 2020, the court has announced that there is clear evidence that a crime
against humanity happening in the country. The claim is directly pointed to the war on drugs of
the Duterte Administration. By year 2021, the ICC confirms that they have preserved evidence
that will be no doubt used for a full-blown investigation of extra judicial killings in the
Philippines. The evidence entails that the estimated deaths of the civilians “murdered” by the
administration is 12,000-30,000 instead of the official count of 8,000 victims.
The country’s human rights group such as the Karapatan, have worked together with
the families of victims to address to the court the grievances brought by the president to his
own citizens. Such act might be a last resort of the national human right activists as they are
often taken for granted and forced to silence by its own government. The group continuously
hopes that the most probable situation that will emerge from the involvement of ICC is an
immediate formal investigation against the president. Cristina Palybay, Karapatan’s secretary
general, shares to “The Diplomat” that, “the engagement in the ICC process by victims and
their kin sends a strong message that perpetrators of such crimes against humanity in the
Philippines should not only be held accountable-the crimes they committed should never be
repeated.”

“They’ll never take me alive” -Pres. Duterte

As a response to the allegations of ICC, the Duterte administration closes the country’s
doors from any investigation the court plans to do. According to Harry Roque, presidential
spokesperson, “Philippines would not cooperate with the investigation. the institution has been
barred from the country and the state refuses to cooperate in any capacity” (The
Diplomat,2021; The Washington Post, 2021).

As much the people would want to see justice work its way in the country, the said
statement, and the withdrawal of Philippines from the institution since 2018 has proved to be
effectively hard for a proper investigation or any interference for that matter led by the ICC to
happen. Experts say that process of persecution of Pres. Duterte with his crimes and making
him fully bear the cross of his misdeeds might be painstakingly long and could take years
especially when they will have a “hard time gathering evidence” as what would the
administration flaunt to the ICC.

Claiming victory for the suffering people of the Philippines over this issue remains bleak.
There are still countless of rivers to cross, mountains to climb, and dangers to brave before we
take back our country as a country for people however, as the ICC actively acts with the help of
our local human right groups, the hope within every Filipino is once again kindled aflame. It has
been officially announced, that the Duterte regime will participate in the 2020 National Election
with Pres. Duterte running for vice president and his daughter, Sara Duterte as president, as a
recourse to continue their hold of power over the nation and to give themselves protection from
the righteous blows of justice heralding their crimes. This is your chance people, take up your
arms in the upcoming election, exercise your right to have and enjoy a fair government that
governs with compassion over its people. Let’s end this, the War on Drugs, the mass killings,
and the reign of our runaway Pres. Duterte.

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