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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go: Let Filipinos judge Duterte's drug war

Bong Go: Let Filipinos judge Duterte's drug war

Published Feb 20, 2023 05:47 pm

Let Filipinos, not the International Criminal Court (ICC), judge former president Rodrigo Duterte in his campaign against illegal drugs, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said on Monday, February 20.

Go stressed this after he thanked former President and now House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for leading the filing of House Resolution 780, which declared "unequivocal defense" for former President Duterte against investigation or prosecution of the International Criminal Court.

Following the authorization of the ICC for the Office of the Prosecutor to resume its probe into the country’s war on drugs under the previous Duterte Administration, Go reiterated that former President Duterte merely acted in the best interest of the nation, its citizens, as well as to protect the future of younger generations of Filipinos.

Go emphasized that it is the Filipino people who should judge the implementation and results of the Philippine drug war, not a foreign court.

Previously, former presidential spokesperson lawyer Harry Roque said in a press statement that Duterte refuses to be tried by foreign entities as long as Philippine courts are willing and able to do so.

“Abogado naman po si (dating) pangulong Duterte at mas gusto po ni (dating) pangulong Duterte that he will be judged by his fellow Filipinos in a Philippine court under Philippine laws (Former President Duterte is a lawyer and he wants his fellow Filipinos to judge him in a Philippine Court under Philippine laws),” Go pointed out.

Arroyo, together with 18 other legislators, filed HR 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 resolution notes the many accomplishments of the Duterte Administration as a result of its “holistic and whole of nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country.”

It also cited Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who referred to the ICC's intention to reopen its probe into Duterte's war on drugs as "insulting" and "totally unacceptable," underscoring that the country has a working and independent justice system.

The Philippines withdrew its ICC membership in 2019.

When asked if a similar resolution will be filed in the Senate, Go said he should leave it up to his colleagues to decide.

Related Tags

Bong Go Duterte administration ICC probe War on drugs
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