2 lawmakers back Marcos stand on Duterte’s arrest
Former President Rodrigo Duterte (AFP/file)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who said that he felt betrayed when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. broke his supposed promise of not cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) is entitled to his opinion, two lawmakers said on Thursday.
Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun, however, backed Marcos’ stance that the Philippines needs to comply with its commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) regarding Duterte’s arrest so as not to risk not getting help from the organization in the future.
“Senator Bato is entitled to his opinion. But hindi ko rin mafathom o maintindihan kung saan siya nanggagaling. Sa tingin ko dahil may hinaharap silang mga bagay na hindi nila inaasahan, na nabigla. I assume na hindi niya ine-expect kasi eh, tapos biglang nangyari. So, they are probably finding ways to say, to answer and to blame,” Dionisio said in a press conference on Thursday.
(But I also can’t fathom or understand where he’s coming from. I think it’s because they’re facing things they didn’t expect and they’re shocked. I assume he didn’t expect it, but then it suddenly happened. So, they are probably finding ways to say or answer, and who to blame.)
“At the end of the day, the President already explained what they did, it is the right process to follow. It is the opinion of the legal minds of our country and of our government. And I think we should just let it pan out. Anyways, nasa legal na sistema naman na natin yon,” he added.
Khonghun, on the other hand, reiterated that the government did not cooperate with the ICC and only with Interpol.
“Ang ating responsibilidad, obligasyon sa Interpol, yun ang ating ginampanan at siyempre may mga wanted pa tayong mga o pinag-hahanap na mga tao sa labas ng ating bansa, kailangan natin ng tulong ng Interpol so responsibilidad ng bansa ay kailangan nating makipag ugnayan at makipag tulungan sa Interpol para narin sa hustisya,” he added.
(Our responsibility and obligation is with Interpol, and of course, we ask them to help wanted people outside our country. We need the help of Interpol so it is the responsibility of the country to communicate and assist Interpol for justice as well.)
To assumptions that Duterte’s trial might take up to eight years and that he could no longer return to the Philippines, Dionisio said that “people are getting ahead of themselves.”
“Nag kukwentuhan nga kami the other day nung mga ibang congs na pati daw yung kapitbahay at mga labandera nila may opinyon din eh: ‘nako ano na yan, mga sampung taon, dalawampung taon’ wala talagang basehan. Pareparehas tayo ngayon na, we are seeing things unfold as the day goes by,” he added.
(We were talking the other day with other representatives and even their neighbors and their helpers had opinions that it might take 10 to 20 years. Right now, we are all witnessing the same things and seeing things unfold as the day goes by.)
On Wednesday, Dela Rosa revealed that Marcos told him not to worry because he will never cooperate with the ICC for fear that they might be the next on the court’s list.
Last March 11, Duterte was served an arrest warrant by the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s drug war.
After his arrest, Duterte was transferred to Villamor Air Base headquarters before being flown to The Hague via a chartered plane. He arrived in the Hsgue at 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday.
