ICC’s prosecutor, Fatou Besouda, requests an investigation about the situation in the Philippines.

On 14th June 2021, the current prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Besouda, announced that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded. Based on the results of the investigation, she stated that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder has been committed on the territory of the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the Government of the Philippines “war on drugs” campaign. Therefore, she has requested judicial authorisation to proceed with an investigation of these crimes. After having thoroughly examined the country’s situation, the ICC’s preliminary examination team raised some information that indicates that members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians during that time. There was also strong evidence on the commitment of torture and other inhumane acts throughout the same time. According to the ICC’s prosecutor, all of which made her require an authorization of the ICC to open an investigation. For further information, please visit: https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=210614-prosecutor-statement-philippines