Senate President Vicente Sotto III
(Joseph Vidal / Senate PRIB / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was satisfied that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that crimes against humanity, such as murder, torture, physical injury and mental harm, and other “inhumane acts,” were committed in relation to Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“That’s what she believes. Some believe otherwise,” Sotto said when asked to comment on Bensouda’s report on Viber.
The Senate chief, a staunch anti-illegal drug advocate, has been supportive of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, although maintaining that drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation of drug dependents should be prioritized to reduce the demand for prohibited and dangerous substances.