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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon who cornered Duterte in quad-comm hearing makes case for Philippines' return to ICC

Solon who cornered Duterte in quad-comm hearing makes case for Philippines' return to ICC

Published Dec 6, 2024 10:38 am

At A Glance

  • The congresswoman who famously squeezed out an "extrajudicial confession of guilt" from former president Rodrigo Duterte in relation to his bloody war on drugs is batting for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the European Union (EU).

20241206_155750.jpgFormer president Rodrigo Duterte (left), Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The congresswoman who famously squeezed out an "extrajudicial confession of guilt" from former president Rodrigo Duterte in relation to his bloody war on drugs is batting for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the European Union (EU).

 

“The decision to depart from the Rome Statute in 2019 was a devastating decision,” Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, said in a statement Friday, Dec. 6.

The lawyer-legislator and member of the House "Young Guns" bloc was referring to Duterte's own decision when he was still president to withdraw from organization.

 

“It sent the wrong message to the international community that we were unwilling to uphold the protection and promotion of human rights, which should be inherent to every individual, and displayed the fragility of our democratic institutions,” Luistro said.

 

“At its core, the withdrawal from the ICC signified to our people that our government’s commitment to international treaties, more importantly to our domestic laws, is malleable enough and can be distorted to the whims of a select few,” she reckoned.

“It's imperative for the Philippines to take an unqualified position in its membership in the ICC," she further said, adding that the country must show that it is a democratic republic nation “committed to justice and the preservation of human rights and human dignity".

“Rejoining the ICC would reaffirm the country's commitment to international norms and strengthen its legal framework in holding perpetrators of grave crimes accountable–that, regardless of their status, economic standing, or power, no one is above the law,” stressed the Batangueño.

“This is not to mention that these commitments are anchored on values that are parallel with that of the Philippines, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” she said, adding she considers herself an “advocate” for the Philippines’ return as a member of the ICC. 

Luistro is an active member of the House quad-committee (quad-comm), which has been investigating the Duterte administration’s aggressive anti-illegal drug drive in aid of legislation.

On Nov. 13, when Duterte appeared before the mega-panel, Luistro grilled the ex-president to the point of making an "extrajudicial confession of guilt" for his hand in the drug war that had defined his leadership.

MUST READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/14/here-s-how-surgical-luistro-squeezed-out-confession-from-duterte

 

She did so by first confirming from Duterte his earlier statement that he took full responsibility of what happened in his administration’s aggressive anti-narcotics campaign. 

After Duterte answered in the affirmative, he was then asked by Luistro: 'With all due respect, considering your statement of taking full legal responsibility both to legal and illegal activities, can I equate this statement of yours to am extrajudicial confession of guilt?"

"In a sense yes, wala na ko magawa eh (I can no longer do anything)," answered the former leader.

"Are you saying 'Yes,' Mr. President?" the Batangas solon asked Duterte, also a lawyer.

"Yes because I ordered the campaign against the drug syndicates. At kung anong ginawa nila, whether illegal or not, it was--ako ang nag-utos (And whatever they did, whether illegal or not, it was I who ordered it).

"In that sense, I take that responsibility of their actions. Wala akong magawa eh, commander ako, nag-utos ako. Pag may nangyari dyan, nagka-bulilyaso, whether right or wrong, iyo yan. Iyo talaga yan," explained the 79-year-old. 

(I can't do anything, I'm the commander, I made the order. If something awry happens, whether right or wrong, that's on you. That's really on you.)

In her statement Saturday, Luistro insisted on the need for a court of last resort "which will complement domestic courts" and "will investigate and, where warranted, try individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, namely: genocide; war crimes; crimes against humanity; and the crime of aggression".

 

Related Tags

International Criminal Court (ICC) War on drugs gerville luistro quad-comm Rodrigo Duterte
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