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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go on ICC investigation: There are no dictators in PH

Bong Go on ICC investigation: There are no dictators in PH

Published Nov 30, 2023 11:24 am

At A Glance

  • Aside from pointing out that the country has a working judicial system, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) need not investigate the Philippines as there are no dictators in the country. 

Aside from pointing out that the country has a working judicial system, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) need not investigate the Philippines as there are no dictators in the country.

"Kadalasan po yung mga iniimbestigahan ng ICC yun po yung mga lawless countries or may mga krimen na nangyayari, may dictator. Eh wala naman pong dictator dito sa ating bansa (The ICC usually investigates lalwless countries or those with crimes, with dictators. But there are no dictators in the country)," Go said in an interview on Thursday, Nov. 30.

The senator stated that it's better to just wait for the final decision of President Marcos regarding the ICC.

It was March 2018 when Duterte ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.

This, was after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she would start a preliminary examination against Duterte in connection with complaints on his bloody war against illegal drugs.

Recently, the House of Representatives deliberated House Resolution (HR) Nos. 1393 and 1477, which both seek the Philippine government's cooperation with the ICC pertaining to the investigation of then-president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with complaints regarding his bloody war on drugs.

Of the two, HR No.1393 specified that the investigation was in connection with the alleged crime against humanity committed during the previous Duterte administration. The measures have been adopted at the committee level .

The President brought up last week the country's possible return to the ICC while explaining his stand on the recent calls for the government to cooperate with the ICC in its probe of the previous administration's war on drugs.

"There is also a question: Should we return under the fold of the ICC? So, that’s again under study. So, we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are," he said in a media interview on Friday, Nov. 24.

The President said this as he reaffirmed his stand on the investigation of the drug war that claimed thousands of lives during the previous administration. Since assuming the presidency, Marcos has been firm that the Philippines has no intention to rejoin the ICC.

He also said in March this year that the country is disengaging from the ICC after it rejected the country's appeal to suspend the drug war probe.

Go stated that streets were much safer during the time of Duterte wherein everyone could walk freely at night without getting hurt.

He also expressed support for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa who he said was only fulfilling his duty as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during Duterte's time.

Related Tags

Senator Christopher Bong Go International Criminal Court (ICC) House of Representative President Marcos
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