Revilla hits ICC: ‘These bullies are driven by their own selfish interests’
The International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands. ICC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Thursday branded the International Criminal Court (ICC) as “bullies” following its decision to proceed with the probe on Philippine government’s war on drugs.
Voting 3-2 on Tuesday, the appeals chamber of the ICC junked the appeal of the Philippines to stop its investigation on the brutal war on drugs during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte and Dela Rosa were among those named in the crimes against humanity complaint lodged before the ICC.
Revilla was, however, baffled by what he viewed as ICC’s “pursuit of this obvious baseless persecution while legitimate concerns and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated in other parts of the world.”
“It is obvious the ICC’s interest here is not justice but something else entirely. Binobomba at pinapatay ang mga sibilyan, guro, mga bata at mga musmos sa ibang panig ng mundo pero si Bato at Duterte ang pinanggigigilan nila,” he said in a statement.
(It is obvious that the ICC’s interest here is not justice but something else entirely. Civilians, teachers, children, and infants are already being bombed in other parts of the world but they choose to target Bato and Duterte.)
For Revilla, the international tribunal has already lost its credibility with its supposed politically-motivated “patent partiality.”
“These bullies are driven by their own selfish interests, and they cannot fool us into thinking that they can discharge justice,” the senator then said.
“Ginawa na nila ito sa iba’t-ibang bansa na imbes mabigyang hustisya, ay lantaran nilang binalasubas ang umiiral na batas,” he added.
(They have done this to other countries where, instead of providing justice, they openly disregarded the existing laws)
His remarks followed reports of the possible arrest of those named in the complaint.
Revilla reiterated the country would not allow this clear attempt by the ICC to meddle with Philippine affairs.
“We do not need to remind them that we are a free, independent, and sovereign nation governed by our laws. Kung mayroong pananagutan, sa batas ng ating bansa dapat managot, hindi sa mga dayuhan,” he further said.
