Duterte will face only Ph courts
By J.Lo
"It is Filipino people who should give judgement, and not foreign nation," Sen. Bong Go said in on sidelines of bicameral conference committee meeting at Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati former president Rodrigo Duterte will only face Philippine courts and not "foreign nation." Go expressed confidence that Marcos administration will not cooperate with International Criminal Court (ICC)'s investigation on Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity.
He was reassured by statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in post on his official X account there was no need for international tribunal investigation on previous administration's drug war deaths because of country's own justice system.
"There is democracy in our country, and ICC is only investigating lawless countries…we don't have dictator here," Go said.
He defers to moves at House of Representatives to adopt resolution urging Marcos administration to cooperate with ICC's investigation on Duterte and latter's police chief, now Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, for deaths in bloody narcotics crackdown.
But should former chief executive be invited in impending congressional investigation, Go said Duterte should be accorded due respect.
"Let us give to the former president what is due to him, for his service to the country," Go said.
Senator , who served as Duterte's longtime aide, was mentioned in documents submitted for allegedly knowing about Davao death squad when Duterte was mayor, another subject of ICC probe.
Go also denied he and Dela Rosa talked to Marcos about protection from ICC when senators had casual dinner with Chief Executive at the official residence.
Allowing investigators and prosecutors from Hague-based International Criminal Court will not only prove that lady justice is indeed blind in Philippine justice system, but also means it applies to all ordinary or powerful figures alike, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante said.
"By cooperating with ICC, we send strong message that justice is blind and applies to all, regardless of socioeconomic status," chairman of human rights committee of House of Representatives declared.
Abante, authored House Resolution 1477 along with Rep. Ramon Gutierrez (1-Rider party-list), said such cooperation is vital given injustices inflicted upon "marginalized and underserved" during drug war under previous administration.
Abante also lamented drug war under former president Duterte "affected most vulnerable members of our society, often poor disproportionately impacted."
"By cooperating with ICC, we demonstrate our resolve to hold individuals accountable for grave offenses… precedent and sends powerful message against impunity," he said, as he wanted to "extend full cooperation" to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in his investigation of drug war.
Official records indicate around 6,000 deaths resulting from Duterte's anti-drug campaign, while human rights groups and ICC suggest toll may range from 12,000 to 30,000 between 2016 and 2019.
2020 study by non-profit organization Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEALS) revealed majority of victims in drug war are economically disadvantaged.
In its study titled "Beyond the Numbers," IDEALS compiled dataset encompassing approximately 500 cases of human rights violations from 2016 to February 2020. Cases predominantly originated from Metro Manila, with additional instances recorded in Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Cebu.
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