‘ICC not deterred by personal attacks, fake news’

MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has vowed that the tribunal will not be deterred by personal attacks and fake news in fulfilling its mission.

Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of ICC, maintained that their mandate is bound to see resistance, including the Duterte administration’s allegation that its “self-seeking” publicity benefits the drug trade.

“My office stands firmly united and committed to its independent mandate more than ever to advance accountability for atrocity crimes with utmost professionalism and tenacity,” Bensouda said in video posted on Twitter.

The ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, grants the ICC jurisdiction over four main crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crime of aggression.

The ICC can prosecute crimes against humanity, which are serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population.

In March 2018, President Duterte announced the Philippines’ pull out from the Rome Statute after the ICC announced that it would initiate preliminary examination of alleged crimes against humanity under the anti-narcotics war.

But a withdrawal, the ICC said, has no impact on ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration prior to the back out.

“The (ICC) will also continue to record allegations of crimes committed in the Philippines to the extent that they may fall within the jurisdiction of the court,” Bensouda said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. alleged in a tweet on Feb. 25 that the drug trade was profiting from the ICC’s “self-seeking” publicity, which led to the Philippines’ withdrawal from the tribunal.