The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte does not equate to him being convicted of crimes against humanity, as it would undergo proceedings before the court makes its verdict, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said.
In a press conference on Monday, March 10, the lawmaker reacted to former President Duterte’s statement at an event for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong last Sunday. The latter’s speech in Wan Chai, Hong Kong tackled the alleged ICC arrest warrant against him.
"Ano man ang kasalanan ko, ginawa ko ‘yun para magkaroon ng konting katahimikan at mapayapa ang buhay ng Pilipino," Duterte said during his speech.
“Assuming na totoo talaga yung nairiring niyong ginawa ko. Para sa inyo at inyong mga anak sa ating bayan,” he added.
The ICC’s Subject of Investigation
Chua reacted to the statement to Duterte’s statement, stating that the ICC believes he was the one responsible for killing the drug suspects during the onset of the war on drugs.
“Unang-una, mayroon po tayong tinatawag na rule of law. Pangalawa, kaya po siya nililitis ng ICC dahil nga po sa crimes against humanity kung saan libu-libo po sa mga kababayan natin ang hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na malitis,” Chua emphasized.
Moreover, the lawmaker pointed out how thousands of civilians had fallen victim to the extrajudicial killings, adding that those who died were in the poverty threshold.
“Dito po sa kanilang naging war on drugs ay marami po ang naging biktima ng extrajudicial killings. So ngayon, hindi naman po lahat ‘yan ay involved sa droga. Karamihan po niyan ay mga kababayan natin na mga nasa baba or mga miyembro po ng mga masasabi natin na talagang walang kalaban-laban,” he stated.
Chua said the mass killings during the Duterte administration became the ICC’s basis for its investigation on the matter. Additionally, there is positive and testimonial evidence, proving that Duterte made the orders.
“Halos lahat po, at mayroon pong mga positive at testimonial evidence na ito po ay utos ng ating dating pangulo. Ngayon kung sa tingin po niya ay wala siyang kasalanan, sa tingin ko ito na rin yung pagkakataon para masagot itong mga akusasyon sa kanya sa ICC,” Chua highlighted.
“Hindi naman po porke may inilabas na warrant of arrest ay ibig sabihin guilty na po siya. Ito po ay lilitisin pa lamang at hihingiin yung kanyang panig,” he added.
“Kung makukumbinsi po niya yung ICC na siya po ay walan talagang kinalaman dito, sa akin pong paniniwala ay mabibigyan naman po siya ng tamang hustisiya,” he continued.
Gov't Ensures Preparedness
On Sunday, March 9, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz informed reporters that the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Duterte for crimes against humanity. Shortly after, the Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro clarified that they have yet to confirm the validity of the alleged arrest warrant.
Despite this, Ruiz assured that the “government is prepared for any eventuality.”
Last year, Duterte challenged the ICC and asked that it hurry up and immediately begin its investigation into the administration’s anti-drug operations.
“I am asking the ICC to hurry up, and if possible, they can come here and start the investigation tomorrow. This issue has been left hanging for so many years. Matagal na baka mamatay na ako, hindi na nila ako maibestiga(han),” Duterte said during a Quad Committee hearing.
