GMA leads House in defending Duterte from ICC probe

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has spearheaded a move in the House of Representatives to defend her political ally, former president Rodrigo Duterte, from being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Pampanga congresswoman led 19 more congressmen in filing House Resolution 780, titled “A Resolution In Defense of former President Duterte, the 16th President of the Philippines, Against Investigation and/or Prosecution of the ICC.”

The document was dubbed in the chamber as an “unequivocal defense of Duterte.”

The Philippines withdrew its membership from the ICC in 2019.

HR 780 emphasized that Duterte’s “remarkable accomplishments brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism and terrorism, corruption in government and criminality” made the life of Filipinos “better, comfortable and peaceful.”

It likewise cited the need for immediate action to curb the country’s serious and rampant illegal drug situation at the time when Duterte took office, as the drug problem was becoming an “existential threat to the country’s social fabric.”

Among Arroyo’s and Duterte’s allies who signed were Reps. Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Aurelio Gonzales, Anna York Bondoc-Sagum of Pampanga, Richard Gomez of Leyte, Edward Hagedorn of Palawan, Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque, Eric Martinez of Valenzuela.

Reps. Jose Alvarez, Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Wilton Kho, Loreto Amante, Eduardo Rama Jr., Dale Corvera, Zaldy Villa, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Johnny Pimentel and Marilyn Primicias-Agabas also signed.

The resolution further stated that the country’s unprecedented growth in exports and investments during the Duterte watch was the result of the administration’s “holistic and whole of nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country.”

Underscoring the Philippines’ functioning and independent judicial system, it also quoted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who called the ICC’s intent to resume its investigation against Duterte’s anti-drug campaign as “insulting” and “totally unacceptable.”

‘Bato’ reacts

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa backed Arroyo’s call for Congress to declare an “unequivocal defense” of Duterte against the ICC probe.

“Very good, very good,” Dela Rosa said during yesterday’s opening of the two-day Expo Maritime Philippines 2023 in Pasay City when asked for comment.

Dela Rosa said that no similar efforts were being done in the Senate as far as protecting Duterte from the ICC is concerned.

Considered the architect of the Oplan Tokhang, which resulted in the deaths of a number of drug personalities, Dela Rosa was also included in the ICC investigation.

He noted that it would be self-serving if he would file a resolution, asking the senators to protect Duterte from the ICC probe since he is also one of the so-called co-accused in the drug war as he was Philippine National Police chief then.

“I don’t need to be cleared with them. We do not recognize their jurisdiction over us. If I need to be cleared of anything, I have to clear it to the Filipino people throughout Philippine courts,” said the senator.

Dela Rosa added that he sees no need to file a similar resolution in the Senate since the administration of President Marcos has consistently insisted that they do not want the ICC to intervene in Philippine proceedings.

HRW: House cannot protect Duterte

International watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) maintained that Duterte’s allies in the House cannot protect him from the impending investigation of the ICC.

“The move by some members of Congress has no bearing at all in the ICC investigation. It’s clearly a political move to protect Duterte. They’re merely circling the wagons. But it’s immaterial as far as the resumption of investigation goes,” HRW Asia Division senior researcher Carlos Conde said. –  Robertzon Ramirez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Elizabeth Marcelo