The politicians' "change of heart" on human rights

How did it happen that a pro-human rights House Resolution has not been "nipped in the bud" by the House leadership? During the time of GMA and former president Duterte when the House of Representatives was composed of an overwhelming majority supporting the administration's super majority coalition, any progressive measure proposed by the Makabayan Bloc was declared dead on arrival. Not this time, when there is war between the House leadership and the Dutertes.

The House Resolution 1393, calling on the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigations of human rights violations has been given due course by the House leadership. Instead of being "killed" upon arrival, the resolution, upon motion duly seconded, and without any objection, was referred to the Committee on Justice for appropriate action. The human rights groups are calling this a major breakthrough and even lauded the House leadership for taking the high road instead of blindly supporting the former president in the name of the so-called Uniteam of the Marcoses and the Dutertes.

To my mind, it is sheer naiveté on the part of anyone to ever imagine that this twist in the direction of the House leadership is a result of noble intention in support of human rights. This positive development is just a collateral albeit positive result of the raging war between the Dutertes and the Marcos-Romualdez grand plan for 2028. Obviously the Marcos-Romualdez axis of political power considers it strategically advantageous to weaken the Dutertes so that their plans for 2028 will be crippled by a major political issue.

Once the ICC is allowed to come in and investigate the alleged summary executions in connection with the so-called war against drugs, then the Dutertes will be defending themselves, and they will be distracted from the presidential clash in 2028.

Aside from House Resolution 1393, there is House Resolution 1477 authored by human rights committee chairman Congressman Benny Abante of Manila and One Rider Partylist Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez urging the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed by officials of the past administration in connection with the so-called war on drugs campaign of the Duterte administration. Resolutions along these lines are, of course, music to the ears of former senator Leila de Lima, Nobel Peace Prize awardee Maria Ressa, and even of former vice president and presidential candidate Leni Robredo.

Well, for whatever reason, this column believes that the House should continue to have this resolution duly heard in committee hearings, public consultations, and plenary debates. The international community will hear the true story when witnesses aided by newly-released De Lima and Ressa testify before the House and before the whole nation and the global community via television and other media platforms. These will add more pressure on the Marcos government to allow ICC probers to enter the country and conduct the more in-depth investigations. These are really what the Dutertes dread for this would practically demolish all efforts of the vice president to mount a presidential campaign in 2028.

Once the House passes this resolution then the vice president should start kissing her presidential ambitions goodbye. The way I look at it, Inday Sara cannot duplicate what her "ninang" GMA accomplished: To become a president like her father. If PNoy could do it and BBM could also achieve that feat, I strongly doubt if the vice president can be similarly destined. That is how the cookie crumbles and this resolution will be the start of the end for the Dutertes.