The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) will not submit its findings on drug war-related deaths during the Duterte administration to the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to panel Chairperson Robert Ace Barbers.
Barbers clarified on Sunday that since the Philippines is no longer an ICC member, the investigation’s results will remain for domestic purposes. The progress report and related documents will be provided only to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other local agencies.
“We will not submit the progress report to them. Even if they ask, we will not give it to them because we are no longer members of the ICC,” Barbers said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
He emphasized the administration’s stance: “If the ICC wants to investigate, they can do it on their own. We will not stop them, but they need to source their own witnesses and gather documentary evidence independently.”
Philippines’ Withdrawal from the ICC
The Philippines officially withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in March 2018 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte. This withdrawal took effect in 2019, following Duterte’s accusations that the ICC was making “baseless and outrageous” allegations against his administration over alleged state-sanctioned killings linked to his controversial war on drugs.
QuadComm’s Findings
Barbers stated that the QuadComm has forwarded its recommendations and gathered evidence, including testimonial and documentary proof, to relevant agencies such as the DOJ, the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.
“The testimonial and documentary evidence we have gathered are compelling. However, it will be up to the courts to assess their weight,” he added, underscoring the committee’s limited role in legal proceedings.
The QuadComm’s investigation aims to address drug war-related issues locally, aligning with the administration’s decision not to cooperate with the ICC.