'Kalma lang': Pinoys told to keep calm, shun disinformation as Duterte-ICC saga unfolds

Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN) 

Ranking congressmen have appealed to the public to keep their cool and to reject disinformation following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his crimes against humanity charge before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

House Assistant Majority Leaders Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, and Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V told Filipinos to let due process take its course amid the extraordinary developments.

“I hope that we are able to remind everyone, whether we agree or not with what happened yesterday, to allow people to be calm, to be sober about what’s happening,” Acidre in a press conference with the two other solons on Wednesday, March 12.

For Ortega, there will always be three sides to contemplate on under a situation; but he says the ultimate consideration is the search for truth and justice. 

“There will always be three sides: yung both parties — yung magkabilang side — at saka yung katotohanan. Ang hinahabol po natin dito is yung katotohanan at makamit ang hustisya. Yun lang po,” he said

(There will always be three sides: the two parties who are the opposing sides and the side of truth. What we want to pursue here is the truth and the path toward justice. That over all.)

"Meanwhile, Bongalon urged Filipinos to remain calm and reject malicious and false information that aim to sow destabilization in the country following the former president's arrest.  

“Ako po ay nagaapela na sana po maging kalmado ang lahat sa mga pangyayaring ito. Sana wag po tayong magpagamit sa anumang mga malisyoso at hindi tamang impormasyon na pinapakalat ng ibang tao para mas lalong magulo ang ating bansa," he said.

"Let us remember that we are all Filipinos, ayaw nating bumagsak ang ating gobyerno dahil kapakanan ng lahat ng ating kababayan ang nakasalalay dito. So let’s pray for the Philippines na sana mas maunlad pa ang ating bansa at umiwas [tayo] sa anumang kaguluhan,” Bongalon added.

The ICC has been looking into Duterte's bloody campaign against illegal drugs since 2017. Members of the International Police (Interpol) served an arrest warrant against Duterte in Manila on Tuesday.