Former president and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is now leading the move to protect former president Rodrigo Duterte from being investigated by the International Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the extrajudicial killings committed during his administration’s war against drugs.
She recently filed a resolution titled “A Resolution In Defense of former President Duterte, the 16th President of the Philippines, Against Investigation and/or Prosecution of the ICC.”
Nineteen other lawmakers have taken up their cudgels with her in this matter.
There is no need to expend government resources to defend Duterte. He can very well do that himself. If Arroyo wants the government to use money, time, and personnel to make sure Duterte is “protected” then those are better used somewhere else in the interest of the greater public, which actually includes those who want such an investigation to proceed.
If Duterte is indeed innocent then he has nothing to fear.
Besides, when all is said and done should Duterte even be afraid of the ICC and whatever it concludes? The Philippines is no longer a member of that body thanks to him after he ordered to withdraw our membership in 2019. He can just laugh off their results and be on his merry way, and the ICC will have expended their own resources for nothing.
How do we reckon so? Let’s say he is found guilty by the ICC, they still have to order his arrest to try and bring closure to the issue. And who in the Philippines would do that after he brilliantly won over the military and police to his side during his administration? No one will dare arrest him and the powers-that-be will protect him.
The way we see it, Duterte has all the advantages. So Duterte doesn’t really need their help as he has nothing to worry about.
Of course, as a grand gesture from one ally to another, from one former president to another, it had to be made. But at whose expense? Many of those who pay those lawmakers, who pay taxes that might end up being used to “defend” Duterte actually want justice served for those thousands needlessly slaughtered during his bloody campaign.