The International Criminal Court (ICC)’s appeals chamber will issue its decision on July 18, regarding the Philippines' plea against the continuation of the ICC prosecutor’s investigation of the killings attributed to the country in relation to the previous administration’s war on Drugs.
"Judgement in the above appeal will be delivered in open court on Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 10h00," the three-page statement dated July 12, signed by presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.
After the tribunal's preliminary investigation into the crackdown began in 2019 and a full inquiry was later launched, the Philippines was expelled from the Hague-based court by the country's former president, Rodrigo Duterte.
In November 2019, the investigation was put on hold after the Philippine government announced it was re-examining several hundred incidents of drug operations that resulted in murders at the hands of police, hitmen, and vigilantes.
In September 2021, The ICC noted that they had reviewed supporting materials that indicated that Philippine authorities "failed to take meaningful steps to investigate or prosecute the killings."
It was also noted that the perpetrators of the killings were even offered "cash payments, promotions, or awards for killings.
Former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda filed the request to investigate just prior to her retirement in June 2021, alleging that "state actors, primarily members of the Philippine security forces, killed thousands of suspected drug users and other civilians during official law enforcement operations."
In March, the Marcos administration, through Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, appealed to suspend the ruling and reverse the decision, insisting that the Hague-based tribunal had no jurisdiction over the country.
January this year, when the investigation into the anti-drug campaign was reopened by the ICC.
