The Philippine government on Wednesday filed an appeal to the International Criminal Court pre-trial chamber (ICC-PTC) to reverse its earlier decision to resume the investigation of crimes allegedly committed during the Duterte administration's war against drugs campaign.
The appeal was filed by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra and five other assistant solicitor generals namely, Myrna Agno-Canuto, Henry Angeles, Marissa Dela Cruz-Galandines, Hermes Ocampo, and Ma. Cielo Se-Rondain.
"The relief being sought is a reversal of the decision and the denial of the OTP's request to resume investigation regarding the Situation in the Republic of the Philippines," the PH government stated in the five-page decision dated February 3.
Apart from the reversal of the decision, the government also asked the chamber to stop the implementation of its ruling last January 26.
It said that the "Philippine government disagrees with, and hereby rejects" the conclusions made by the ICC-PTC.
Earlier, the ICC-PTC said the country’s domestic initiatives and proceedings “do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive steps being carried out with a view to conducting criminal proceedings, in a way that would sufficiently mirror the Court's investigation as authorized in the Article 15 Decision.”
The chamber also expressed dissatisfaction with how the government undertake the investigations.
In a statement, Gueverra confirmed filing that they filed the appeal before the ICC-PTC last February 3.
"We filed a notice of appeal with the appeals chamber of the ICC last Feb 3, challenging the entire decision of the pre-trial chamber authorizing the resumption of the investigation into the Philippine Situation," he said.
An appeal brief will be also filed before the end of February, the Solicitor General added.
