The International Criminal Court (ICC) has authorized an investigation into the Philippine government's 'war on drugs', marked by thousands of murders committed by law enforcement officials, which judges believe constitute crimes against humanity.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called the investigation "illegal" and said he does not intend to cooperate. Duterte also instructed his lawyer, Salvador Panelo, to file an inadmissibility application.

The Philippines, the lawyer recalled, do not recognize the CPI, having withdrawn in 2019 from the Rome agreement with which it was established. By virtue of this - he said - "the government will prohibit entry" into its territory to any member of this jurisdiction who comes "to gather information and evidence".

Duterte even threatened to arrest outgoing CPI prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who announced in June that he had requested the now-cleared investigation. The CPI specified that the so-called "war on drugs" campaign cannot be considered a legitimate operation by the police but that the documents available indicate "that, in pursuit of a political choice of a state, a generalized and systematic attack on the civilian population ".

Several people were killed, even simple drug addicts. Many pushers, which Duterte also bragged about, were even knocked out of planes.

(Unioneonline / L)

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