Former president Rodrigo Duterte testifies before the Senate BluBlue Ribbon Committee hearing on the drug war on Oct. 28. (Bong Go's Facebook)

Two ranking congressmen see nothing wrong with the potential submission of the transcript from the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the war on drugs to the International Criminal Court (ICC), should the United Nations (UN)-backed body requests it.  

Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list and Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol Party-list reckoned that since the Oct. 28 blue ribbon panel hearing was made public and accessible, there’s no reason to withhold the transcript. 

The particular hearing is notable for the 79-year-old Duterte's attendance and his subsequent admission of full responsibility for the drug war. The proceedings were livestreamed over the Internet. 

“Well, the Senate hearing was a public proceeding...it was streamed live in social media. It’s a matter of certifying. I don’t think there’s going to be a problem with it,” Acidre said. 

He questioned the hesitation of some senators in sharing the transcript with the ICC, and noted that rleasing the document should not be misconstrued as cooperation with the international body.  

“I don't see the point of the good senator (Ronald "Bato "dela Rosa) kung bakit ayaw niya (why he doesn't want that to happen). It cannot be misconstrued as cooperating because other than what actually happened and what actually has been said, wala namang idadagdag doon (nothing will be added),” Acidre noted. 

The Tingog solon further argued that if the statements made during the hearing were truthful, there should be no fear in sharing the transcript with any entity.  

The ICC is looking into the alleged systematic killings that took place under ex-president Duterte's aggressive war on drugs--a campaign that claimed over 30,000 lives, according to critics. 

Bongalon agreed with Acidre and said that he saw no reason for the Senate to deny any legitimate request for the official transcript.  

He referred to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s emphasis on releasing documents for justifiable purposes. He said that there should be no opposition to transparency on the matter. 

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“For me, I don’t see any reason for the Senate not to grant any request for the official transcript of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. If it's for a justifiable purpose, then they will issue it. Ano po ba ang dapat katakutan kung ito po ay i-release (what is there to fear should it gets released)?” Bongalon said. 

The Bicolano also dismissed concerns that providing the transcript would amount to aiding the ICC. He pointed out that the international body conducts its investigations independently.  

“I guess the grant of any request for the transcript is not in any way aiding the ICC because we have to remember that ICC is doing any investigation independently. So dapat hindi tayo maging hadlang sa ano man ang magiging investigation ng ICC (So we shouldn't be a hindrance to whatever probe the ICC does),” he explained.