Rights groups urge ICC not to defer probe on Philippines' drug war

MANILA, Nov 20 (dpa): After the International Criminal Court put on hold its probe into the Philippine "war on drugs" which has left thousands dead under President Rodrigo Duterte, rights groups on Saturday urged the tribunal to push on with its investigation.

The Netherlands-based ICC temporarily suspended its investigation after a request of deferral from the Philippine government, which said local authorities were looking into at least 52 cases of drug war killings.