Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed dismay anew over former President Rodrigo Duterte being surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) instead of facing trial in the country’s judicial authorities.
Speaking online at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations' public hearing on Thursday, March 20, Go stated that it should be Filipinos—through the country’s own judicial system—who can determine the fate of a fellow Filipino in accordance with the law, underscoring the implications of Duterte’s arrest on Philippine sovereignty and national dignity.
"Hindi ko lubusang matanggap na siya ay nililitis sa ibang bansa gayong siya ay isang Pilipino? Samantalang mayroon naman tayong maayos na judicial system sa ating bansa na nirerespeto (I can’t fully accept that he is being tried in another country when he is a Filipino, especially since we have a proper judicial system in our country that is respected)," Go said.
He argued that the Philippines can hold its own people accountable under its own laws, without interference from international bodies.
"Kasarinlan ‘yan bilang isang bansa. May sarili tayong batas, may sarili tayong proseso, may sarili tayong korte, at may kakayahan tayong panagutin ang sinumang nagkasala sa ating bayan (That's sovereignty as a nation. We have our own laws, our own processes, our own courts, and the ability to hold anyone who commits a crime against our country accountable)," he added.
The reelectionist senator raised concerns about the Philippine government’s handling of the ICC’s arrest warrant particularly how the local police were quick to implement the arrest and immediately turnover Duterte to an international court.
He pointed out that Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra had consistently maintained that the ICC has no authority over the Philippines, a position held by the Duterte administration and reaffirmed by the current government.
Amid the arrest on March 11, Go emphasized that, at the very least, the proper Philippine judicial authority should have been tapped to verify the validity of the arrest warrant from the Interpol, the ICC, or any foreign authority before any action was taken by local law enforcers in accordance with the law.
"Kung wala naman talagang jurisdiction at may warrant of arrest ang Interpol o ICC, sana binigyan muna ng pagkakataon ang gobyerno through the proper authority, like judicial court, na i-verify o suriin ang validity ng arrest warrant (If there really is no jurisdiction and there is an arrest warrant from Interpol or the ICC, the government should have been given the chance, through the proper authority like a judicial court, to verify or assess the validity of the arrest warrant first)," he stressed.
Go made it clear that this issue is not just about Duterte but about the Philippines' right to justice and the sacrifices made by past generations to secure national independence.
He also expressed frustration over how Duterte, despite having served as the country’s leader, was seemingly abandoned by his own government despite its mandate to protect the rights of every Filipino.
He insisted that Filipinos, who directly experienced Duterte’s governance, should be the ones to assess his actions and their impact on the country.
For the senator, Duterte’s arrest was not just an attack on the former president but also an erosion of the Filipino people’s right to self-determination.
The senator reiterated that March 11, the day of Duterte’s arrest, was a dark moment for the country.
"As I said, March 11 was indeed the saddest day in our history. Sana po hindi na po ito maulit. Marami pong nasaktan na Pilipino (As I mentioned, March 11 was truly the saddest day in our history. I hope this never happens again. Many Filipinos were hurt)," he said.