Senator Bong Go has welcomed and expressed willingness to support a proposed Senate resolution defending former president Rodrigo Duterte against the probe of the International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor into the country’s drug war during his administration.
“I thank Sen. Robinhood Padilla for his Proposed Senate Resolution No. 488 defending former president Rodrigo Duterte from investigation or prosecution by the ICC. I am most willing to be made as a co-author of said resolution,” Go said.
Senate Resolution No. 488 was filed by Senator Robin Padilla recently expressing support for Duterte against the ICC probe.
“Alam ko na ginawa lang ni dating pangulong Duterte ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin para sa kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino.”
“Bilang senador ngayon at naging parte rin ng nakaraang administrasyon, alam ko na ginawa lang ni dating pangulong Duterte ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin para sa kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino at kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” Go said.
Stressing that the Philippines is a sovereign country, the legislator insisted that it is the Filipino people, not a foreign court, who should review the implementation and outcomes of the Philippine drug war.
“Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, hayaan natin ang mga kapwa Pilipino ang humusga kung mas nakakalakad ba sila sa gabi na hindi nababastos at hindi nasasaktan ang kanilang mga anak,” the lawmaker said.
Padilla’s resolution notes that “former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte believes that the widespread, serious, and rampant illegal drug problem that has infected every nook and corner of the country is an existential threat to the country’s social fabric”.
It then declares the “unequivocal defense” of Duterte “in any investigation or prosecution by the ICC”.
Padilla also echoed the assertion that the Philippines’ justice system is functioning and independent, thus eliminating the need for foreign courts to intervene.
“May sarili tayong mga korte na nananatiling malaya at mapagkakatiwalaan.”
A similar resolution in the House of Representatives, House Resolution No. 780, was filed by former president and now House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, together with 18 other legislators on February 16.
Go then restated his position that it is inappropriate for foreigners to evaluate the country’s war on drugs during the previous administration, stressing, “Hindi dapat banyaga ang humusga sa naging kampanya ng nakaraang administrasyon laban sa ilegal na droga dahil buhay na buhay naman ang demokrasya sa ating bansa, mayroon tayong rule of law na pinapairal, at may sarili naman tayong mga korte na nananatiling malaya at mapagkakatiwalaan.”
The ICC’s move to reopen its investigation into the former president was also rejected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who stressed that the ICC lacked jurisdiction and insisted that the country has a “good” judicial system.
Marcos added that, unless it could be established that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines, he would not permit “former imperialists” to control the country.
Earlier, when Go was asked if a similar resolution will be passed in the Senate, he said he would leave it up to his colleagues to decide.
“Mas mabuti po sigurong ang iba kong kasamahan kasi self-serving (kung ako). Dati po kaming magkasama ni (former) president Duterte. Basta ako po, ‘yun po ang aking statement bilang senador — ginawa po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para sa ikabubuti ng bansa,” he maintained.
“Pilipino na po ang bahala sa kanya. Hinihikayat ko po ang ating mga kababayan na ipaglaban po natin si (dating) pangulong Duterte dahil ginawa niya po ang kanyang trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan,” the senator concluded.
