By Arabella Balderama

After the  International Criminal Court (ICC) released its latest ruling denying a request filed on March 13, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra declared that the Philippines is “not legally and morally bound to cooperate” with the ICC’s investigation of the past illegal drug operations brought about by the Duterte administration.

The ICC’s Appeals Chamber released the latest ruling regarding the country’s drug war on March 27, rejecting the Philippine government’s request to adjourn its probe due to “the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect”.

The ruling states that the Philippine government failed to explain how the alleged absence of a jurisdictional or legal basis for resuming the Prosecutor’s activities pending the resolution of the appeal would defeat its very purpose and create an irreversible situation could not be corrected.

Guevarra called the impending probe an indictment against the country’s justice system, claiming that the ruling infringes on Philippine sovereignty.

“It places us in the same class of rogue nations where the rule of law is not respected. It tends to humiliate us in the eyes of the international community. This affront is irreversible and incorrectible even if we eventually win on the merits of our appeal,” Guevarra added, arguing that the ruling would have “serious and far-reaching” consequences for the Philippines.

Guevarra further expressed his dismay, saying that the ICC is being “unfair” towards them after complying with all needed requirements for the appeal.

Last March 13, 2023, the Office of the Solicitor General filed an appeal before the ICC’s Appeals Chamber, requesting to stop the investigation of the drug-war killings.

Thumbnail from Philippine Star