DOJ secures ICC witnesses vs Duterte

At least three or four witnesses who will testify against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands are now under the protection of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

- JEFFREY DAMICOG

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla revealed this on Thursday, June 26, saying the DOJ has been providing protection for the witnesses since May after the ICC contacted the DOJ's Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP) requesting security for the witnesses.

After learning that the ICC reached out to the DOJ's WPSBP, Remulla ordered the program director to cooperate and help them.

But he clarified that the DOJ will only be providing security for the witnesses while in the Philippines.

Once the witnesses are in The Hague, it will be the ICC that will transport and secure the witnesses.

Duterte is currently detained by the ICC in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's war on illegal drugs.

Remulla explained that providing protection to the witnesses does not go against the Philippine government's stance that ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the country.

He said the government allowed the ICC to pursue the cases since the victims filed the complaints before the international court.

Remulla explained that providing protection to witnesses does not signal the Philippines' return to the ICC.

"That is another decision that we will have to make as a country," he said.

Reject Duterte's interim release plea - victims

Meanwhile, the ICC's Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) has opposed former president Duterte's request for interim release.