WITH VIDEO | SolGen Confirms ICC Request To ‘Interview’ Five Individuals Regarding Drug War: ‘We Will Not Get In The Way’

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed on Monday night, July 29, the International Criminal Court’s request to interview five individuals regarding the drug war implemented during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

But in an interview with “The Big Story” on One News, Guevarra did not name the individuals and only said he was compelled to put things into context following former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s pronouncements that former police chiefs Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde, along with three other former and current police officials, had been formally tagged as suspects in the ongoing drug war investigation of ICC.

Trillanes released portions of a four-page document purportedly released by the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) on July 3.

According to Guevarra, a request was indeed made and coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs early this month. It was relayed to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the President early this month.

But Guevarra stressed that government is not preparing for anything despite the ICC request because the Philippines has withdrawn from and terminated relations with the ICC in 2019.

“Yes. There is a communication. There is a request from the ICC prosecutor requesting assistance from the Philippine government to facilitate the interview of five individuals,” Guevarra said, noting that the interview could be done at The Hague or in the Philippines.

If those two options are not possible, Guevarra said the ICC asked if the Philippine government itself could conduct the interview on behalf of the ICC prosecutor.

“And the reason for this, is this: The ICC prosecutor cannot apply for a warrant of arrest unless he has full information about the facts that happened in the Philippine drug war. So far, the ICC prosecutor has seen much on the side of the complainants, but nothing much on the side of those being accused. So it is the duty of the Prosecutor under Article 54 of the Rome Statute to investigate all facts, whether incriminating or exonerating so that he presents a balanced picture to the pre-trial Chamber who will determine whether it will issue a warrant of arrest or not,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra disclosed his office already recommended a reply to the ICC request but the final say would come from the Office of the President.

“I am not sure about the final reply to the ICC prosecutor. But knowing fully well that the Philippine government, the President (Marcos) has repeatedly stated that we have no legal duty to cooperate or to lend assistance, then probably the answer is negative,” Guevarra said.

“But that does not mean that the ICC prosecutor cannot continue his investigation. He can do so. He can interview these five people directly. All that we're saying is the government will not be involved,” Guevarra added. “No, we will not get in the way. The ICC prosecutor can do that voluntarily, by himself, directly talking to these people."

Watch Guevarra’s interview here:

WITH VIDEO | ‘ICC Notifies Philippine Government Of EJK Suspects, Led By Bato’