DOJ: Gov’t officials who work with ICC may face punishment

MANILA, Philippines — Government officials who work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be punished under the law, said Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Asec. Mico Clavano on Thursday.

According to former Senator Antonio Trillanes III, the ICC has already spoken to 50 former and present Philippine National Police officers regarding their involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

READ: Trillanes: ICC contacted 50 past, present PNP officials on Duterte case

“This is a government policy, so when a government officer or official is coordinating with the ICC against the direction or the order and the policy of the government, there may be accountability involved.

“So it’s, you know, if there is law enforcement or government official that goes against the policies and orders of the authorities in position, then obviously there will be some sort of conflict of interest; there will be accountabilities and definitely liabilities that go with it,” said Clavano in a Palace briefing.

According to Clavano, they could be punished under the provisions of Republic Act 6713 or the  “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”

“So these are ethical guidelines followed by all public officials and obviously if you go against the policy, it will be found under those provisions, the liabilities,” said Clavano.

However, this does not apply to former officials who are now civilians, said the spokesperson.

“If they are acting in their civilian capacity or personal capacity, then of course we have little to hold over them. However, again, we will not recognize anything that will come out of that conversation or coordination with them,” he said.

The ICC, known as the court of last resort, has been investigating Duterte’s war on drugs, which some human rights groups believe has left upwards of 20,000 people dead.