ICC to probe alleged crimes in the Philippines and Venezuela
The Hague — The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched initial probes into alleged crimes against humanity, during the "war on drugs" in the Philippines and political upheaval in Venezuela. "Since 2016, I have closely followed the situations" in both the Philippines and Venezuela, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement. After "a careful, independent and impartial review … I have decided to open a preliminary examination into each situation". In the Philippines, her office would "analyse crimes allegedly committed … since at least July 1 2016, in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ campaign" launched by Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte. "Specifically, it has been alleged that since 1 July 2016, thousands of persons have been killed for reasons related to their alleged involvement in illegal drug use or dealing," Bensouda said. Many were allegedly "extrajudicial killings" carried out during "police antidrug operations". The ICC was opened in 2002 to p...
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