MANILA, Philippines – Former Senator Leila De Lima emphasized that Philippine law allows authorities to cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the war on drugs.

During the ninth public hearing of the House Quad Committee, De Lima cited Section 17 of Republic Act 9851, also known as the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, which states that “the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime.”

The law, signed in 2009 during the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, predates the Philippines’ ratification of the Rome Statute in 2011. This means that the country had already acknowledged the jurisdiction of international bodies like the ICC.

Extra-judicial killings (EJKs) related to the war on drugs fall under “crimes against humanity,” as defined by Section 6 of RA 9851. These crimes carry the penalty of reclusion perpetua for those found guilty.

Additionally, Chapter V, Section 9 of the law states that “this act shall apply equally to all persons without any distinction based on official capacity”. This means that even heads of state, such as former President Rodrigo Duterte, can be held accountable without exemption.

De Lima also exposed the reward system implemented by the Davao Death Squad (DDS), where members were allegedly paid between P10,000 to as much as P1 million per kill. She further disclosed the organizational structure of the DDS, naming Duterte, the former Davao mayor and president, as the mastermind behind the operations.

The former senator expressed her willingness to share her personal notes from the investigation she led while serving as chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

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