DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo Duterte advised former senator and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to find contentment in her current situation and refrain from picking up a fight she will regret.
Addressing the recent criticism of the former senator, Duterte said that no matter what she does and even if she crucifies herself on the cross, she has shamed the entire generation after her.
“What will I be held accountable for? She caused the mess, and yet I will be held accountable? Find your peace where you are now. Don’t look for trouble. You will only regret it,” Duterte said.
“That is still there… Why retaliate against me? I don’t do rock and roll,” he added, referring to a video depicting De Lima dancing in a rock concert hosted by a convicted drug lord at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City.
Duterte acknowledged the court’s ruling clearing De Lima in her third and final drug case after seven years.
As a lawyer, Duterte said he can only say that the court's decision is correct. He added that it is a verdict rendered by the court and must be respected.
Last week, De Lima stated that it was now Duterte’s time to confront the “misdeeds” of his controversial drug war. She also said she would help the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte said the ICC has been around for a long time. He added that he does not care about the ICC as they have no jurisdiction in the Philippines.
“I don’t give a s**t whether they come in. The Philippines has already left the ICC. We’re not part of it. If they insist that there is a case warranting my arrest, I will wait for them,” he said.
Duterte stressed that he wants the ICC to serve the warrant, not the the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“I want the ICC representative to bring me the document because the moment that person gives it to me, I will feed the paper to him or deliver him to hell,” the former President said.
Despite the complex relationship between Duterte and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Chief Executive assured that he would not hand over the former President to the ICC.