Local prosecution

EDITORIAL - Following the marathon appearance of former president Rodrigo Duterte at the Senate last Monday, the Blue Ribbon subcommittee is making available to the public the transcripts of the proceedings.

Lawmakers led by the subcommittee chair, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, along with human rights advocates are hoping that the transcripts will be used to prosecute Duterte and his former officials for crimes against humanity in the bloody crackdown on illegal drugs.

Pimentel has one particular hope —that foreign entities won't beat Philippine prosecutors in using the Blue Ribbon proceedings to indict Duterte.

The International Criminal Court is expected to issue arrest warrants for Duterte and several of his former officials for the offense of murder as a crime against humanity.

The ICC has been looking into the issue since Duterte's presidency.