Trillanes slams Duterte on refusal to face International Criminal Court probe

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV described the threat issued by President Duterte to arrest International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda if she steps foot in the country as a cowardly act.

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, for his part, said Duterte could not have Bensouda apprehended because she enjoys immunity from arrest.

Even though he projects himself as a tough guy in his public appearances, Trillanes said Duterte is apparently afraid of being investigated by an international body such as the ICC, over which he has no control, and be held accountable for his actions. 

“He is simply a coward. You commit crimes; you kill over 20,000 Filipinos, someone has to be held liable for this,” Trillanes said over radio dwIZ yesterday.

According to Trillanes, who played an active role in the filing of a complaint against Duterte before the ICC, local investigating bodies, including Congress, have not been able to conduct a legitimate probe into the killings allegedly perpetrated by the Duterte administration, which is why the entry of an international body is very important.

While Duterte has announced his decision to withdraw the Philippines’ ratification of the Rome Statute on the ICC, Trillanes said the country is still officially under the jurisdiction of the ICC.

“This threat of his to arrest the ICC investigators; the withdrawal (of the ratification); these will pave the way for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes said he does not believe the police and military, as well as the Filipino people in general, would protect Duterte from arrest when the time comes, based on his own analysis of the situation.