The International Criminal Court (ICC) may choose to keep the issuance of an arrest warrant secret until the accused is actually arrested, according to Maria Kristina Conti, an assistant to counsel at the ICC. This approach is possible and has been suggested as a strategy to ensure the effectiveness of the arrest process. Conti emphasized that the most significant development would be the announcement of the capture of a wanted person who is on their way to The Hague.
The ICC is currently investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Duterte administration's war on drugs. The investigation includes high-profile individuals such as former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who was Duterte's police chief and implemented the drug war. Other named suspects include former Philippine National Police officials Oscar Albayalde, Edilberto Leonardo, Eleazar Mata, and Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr.
Conti mentioned that the ICC's renewed call for more witnesses on crimes against humanity, including torture, murder, and sexual abuse, indicates that the investigation is intensifying. The Philippine government, however, has taken the position that it will no longer engage with the ICC, having withdrawn from the court in 2019, and will not assist in the investigation. Despite this, the ICC continues to set up interviews and gather data on the drug war, which has seen thousands of suspected drug pushers and addicts killed in police operations.
The uncertainty remains regarding when a warrant might be issued, with Conti suggesting it could happen this month or early next year. The ICC's approach to keeping warrants secret until arrests are made underscores the complexities and challenges of international justice, especially in cases involving high-ranking officials and sensitive political contexts.
%20(Video)_20241220_175400_0000.jpg)
0 Comments