ICC should let PH run after those 'liable' in past illegal drugs operations
The International Criminal Court (ICC) should let the Philippines run after the persons against whom the tribunal has evidence of having committed crimes during the past illegal drugs operations, Department of Justice (DOJ) Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Monday, July 17.
“Basta may ebidensya na makaturo sa mga taong gusto nilang usigin natin ay ibigay sa atin ang ebidensya at tayo na ang bahala na habulin ang mga taong gumawa ng krimen sa ating bansa (As long as they have evidence against these persons that they want to run after then they should give them to us so that we will be the ones to prosecute those who committed crimes in our country),” Remulla said during a press briefing.
The ICC’s Appeals Chamber is set to resolve on Wednesday, July 18, the appeal of the Philippines to stop the order of ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I which granted the request of the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor to resume the investigation.
Remulla reiterated his earlier warning that should the ICC’s Appeals Chamber deny the Philippines’ plea, “hindi sila welcome sa Pilipinas (the ICC is not welcome in the Philippines).”
“Tayo po ay very hospitable people kaya lang kung pakikialam na ang gagawin nila ay hindi po tayo papayag dahil may sarili po tayong sistema ng batas, may sarili tayong tradisyon, may sarili tayong kapulisan, may sarili tayong prosecution, ng korte na hindi nila pwedeng pakialaman o kaya balewalain (We are very hospitable people but, if they interfere with us, we will not allow it because we have our own justice system, our own tradition, our own law enforcement, our own prosecution, our own courts that outsiders can’t interfere with or set aside),” Remulla declared.
“‘Yan po ay igalang nila ang ating sovereignty (They should respect our sovereignty),” he stressed.
He lamented that the ICC has allowed itself to be used in political agendas that seeks to interfere with judicial processes in the Philippines.
“Ang ICC po ay para sa mga bansang wala sistema ng batas na umiiral at doon po talaga kinakailangan ‘yan (The ICC is for countries with no prevailing justice system and it is there they are needed),” he said.
“Hindi ho para makialam sa isang established na sistema tulad ng Republika ng PIlipinas (It is not to interfere in the established system of the Republic of the Philippines),” he added.