PH appeals ICC’s revival of ‘drug war...

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Cruz-Galandines, and Hermes Ocampo.

No argument was offered but Guevarra said they will be filing an appeal brief before the end of February.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Carlos Conde said he is optimistic the appeal would not change anything to stop the resumption of the drug war probe, adding that it seems the government is just going through the motion of exhausting the remedies available to it.

He said it would be better if the Marcos administration would cooperate with the probe.

“Instead of undermining the ICC and its important work of accountability, the government should really just cooperate. Just because it’s no longer a state party to the Rome Statute doesn’t mean it cannot cooperate,’ Conde said.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said ICC investigators will not be welcomed in the country unless they will not impose and respect the justice system.

He asserted that the country has a functioning justice system and said the decision of the ICC to resume its “drug war” probe is an “irritant.”

In granting the request of Prosecutor Karim Khan to resume the probe into the Philippines’ war on drugs, the ICC said the information and materials submitted by the Philippine government “do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps in a way that would sufficiently mirrors the Tribunal’s investigation.” g

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Eala, who is currently the Women’s Tennis Association’s world No. 217, earned her career-best ranking of No. 214 and she is eager to keep rising in the rankings and compete in more pro circuit tournaments this year.

“Well, that depends on a lot of factors. I have to defend points and hopefully gain points if I can and it also depends on who joins the tournaments and who backs out,” Eala said. “So, give or take.

I hope so. I really don’t know because it would be my first French Open professionally.”

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar made her first appearance in French Open as a junior in 2021, reaching the semifinals in singles and ruling the doubles with Russian partner Oksana Olegovna Selekhmeteva.

The first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title reached the main draw of the Thailand Open but she lost to sixth seed Tatjana Maria of Germany, 2-6, 2-6, in the WTA 250 event in Hua Hin last week.

Eala also made her first Grand Slam appearance as a pro in the 2023 Australian Open qualifying round, suffering an early exit at the hands of Japan’s Misaki Doi last month. (Lance Agcaoili/ Inquirer.net)