SINGAPORE — The Philippine government has pledged to ensure the safety of key witnesses in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) case against former president Rodrigo Duterte over his controversial war on drugs, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday, June 26.
Speaking to reporters, Remulla confirmed that the ICC has formally requested the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program to safeguard individuals who may testify in the case.
“We will protect the witnesses, whatever it takes,” Remulla asserted.
“The prosecution will rely on these witnesses to prove their case.”
According to the justice secretary, the protection will remain in effect while the witnesses are under Philippine jurisdiction. Once they are officially turned over to the ICC, the international tribunal will take responsibility.
“It’s our obligation to help,” he said, partly in Filipino.
“If we can protect witnesses in other cases, why not in this one?”
“Ang mahalaga, ‘yung testigo makarating ng maayos ang kanyang testimonya, para malaman natin kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa mga panahon na ‘yon,” he added, emphasizing the importance of hearing the witnesses’ accounts to fully understand what transpired during the Duterte administration.
Remulla also shared that three to four witnesses are currently coordinating with the DOJ, though he declined to name them for security reasons.
ICC Proceedings Continue
On June 25, Remulla revealed that the ICC had formally reached out to the Philippine government regarding the need to safeguard witnesses involved in the probe into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
He added that the government is prepared to offer financial support to assist these witnesses with travel to The Hague, where ICC hearings are being held.
Meanwhile, in a separate ICC filing also dated June 25, victims of the drug war opposed Duterte’s request for interim release to an undisclosed country, citing concerns for their safety.
The ICC’s prosecution team has also objected to the request, expressing similar fears.
The ICC is continuing its investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity committed under Duterte’s leadership, particularly in relation to thousands of drug-related killings during his presidency.
