ICC's Selective Justice: From Manila to The Hague
📰 THE STORY: ABC News reports that International Criminal Court (ICC) judges have affirmed former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his 'war on drugs.' The decision allows the prosecution to resume its investigation into thousands of killings from 2016 to 2019. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Philippines,
a former U.S. colony, has a long history of U.S. intervention and influence. In 1965, the U.S. backed Ferdinand Marcos, whose authoritarian rule saw widespread human rights abuses until 1986. The U.S. has historically supported regimes in the Philippines that serve its strategic interests, often overlooking their human rights records. The ICC's sudden focus on Duterte comes as current President
Bongbong Marcos Jr. (son of Ferdinand Marcos) has pivoted back towards closer U.S. ties, allowing increased access for U.S. forces amidst escalating tensions with China. Double Standard: The ICC's swift action against Duterte contrasts sharply with its profound reluctance to pursue leaders from Western-allied nations, especially Israel. While Duterte is scrutinized for an estimated 6,000-30,000
extrajudicial killings, the ICC has faced immense political pressure and outright threats from the U.S. and its allies when attempting to investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan involving U.S. personnel or the ongoing genocide in Gaza committed by Netanyahu's government, which has caused over 40,000 deaths since October 2023. European powers like Germany actively silence dissent regarding