Former president Rodrigo Duterte is unruffled by former senator Leila de Lima’s plan to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating him for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s war on drugs campaign.
(From left) Former senator Leila de Lima and former president Rodrigo Duterte (King Rodriguez/ Presidential Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview on SMNI’s “Gikan Sa Masa, Para sa Masa” on late Wednesday night, Nov. 15, the former chief executive dared both the former lawmaker and the ICC.
“Dito sa ICC, magsama-sama na kayo ng ICC, iha (Regarding ICC, bring it on with ICC, dear),” he said.
“Come, come,” he added, referring to ICC’s current investigation on his bloody drug war campaign.
De Lima’s camp earlier said that the former senator has plans to coordinate with the ICC since she wants to continue her advocacy on human rights and the rule of law. She was also among those who initiated a probe into the drug war during her term.
The former senator called on the Marcos administration to reconsider engaging with ICC.
Duterte, however, has less to say about De Lima’s release on bail early this week.
“I would not want to question the wisdom of the court in granting—sa judge ‘yan (it’s up to the judge). I will not discuss,” he said.
The former lawmaker’s petition for bail on her third and final drug charge was granted by a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Monday, Nov. 13. She was freed on the same day after almost seven years in detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center.
De Lima and her allies have claimed the drug charges that put her in detention when she was still a senator were fabricated by the former president, whom she was a vocal critic of during his bloody war on drugs campaign and various human rights violations.
She was also one of the former president’s most persistent critics during his time as mayor of Davao City as De Lima had served as chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and justice secretary during that time.
Of the three drug charges filed against the former lawmaker, two have already been dismissed through demurrer of evidence in February 2021 and the other through lack of merit of the prosecution’s case in May 2023.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla admitted that De Lima’s final case will likely be dismissed following the granting of the bail plea.