On the fourth Monday of July, an intriguing event took place during the State of the Nation Address (Sona). President Marcos’ speech lacked mention of an important international matter, raising eyebrows among justice advocates. The recent decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the investigation in the Situation in the Philippines was purposefully ignored. This deliberate omission did not go unnoticed.
The President dedicated his speech to discussing the drug war, carefully choosing his words to present a softer approach than his predecessor. He stated that the campaign against illegal drugs now focuses on community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education, and reintegration to address drug dependence. However, these policies, while sounding good in theory, are questionable in practice.
The drug war, known as “Oplan Tokhang,” has a dark legacy of extrajudicial killings and widespread fear within the nation. The Philippine National Police mainly targeted underprivileged communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 30,000 individuals, mostly small-time drug peddlers and users. Mr. Marcos now claims to shift the focus from the drug user to the drug syndicate, attempting to distance himself from the past.
Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, the Marcos administration continues to play a dual-sided game. They assert non-recognition of the ICC’s jurisdiction while signaling compliance with international standards. However, history has shown that international accountability remains a possibility through various channels.
Mr. Marcos should be cautious as he navigates the drug war. If he doesn’t tread carefully, the responsibility for its consequences will fall on him. The President must distance himself from Duterte and the Dutertian drug war to avoid being held accountable for any potential international prosecution.
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