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House resolution defending Duterte vs. ICC probe gets support

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

February 17, 2023, 5:48 pm

MANILA – The chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs on Friday expressed his full support to the resolution defending former President Rodrigo Duterte against the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into the anti-illegal drug campaign during his presidency.

In a statement, Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers said Duterte’s so-called war on drugs abated what could have been an “irreversible disaster”—the Philippines becoming a “narco state.”

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs during the whole Duterte administration, I have seen the gravity of the drug problem firsthand. My position gave me privilege access to all information on the real situation,” Barbers said.

“Years of neglect corrupted institutions and transformed them into weak weapons against the illegal drug trade. The ascent of President Duterte into the presidency was a blessing for this country. I am sure that if he did not become the President, we are now a certified narco state,” he added.

“More importantly, his policy should not be equated to the situation on the ground. Policy is different from implementation. If those who were tasked to implement the policy overdid it and committed abuses, the former President should not be faulted for them,” Barbers added.

House Senior Deputy Speaker and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 18 other lawmakers on Wednesday filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to declare “unequivocal defense" for Duterte as the ICC is set to reopen its investigation for alleged crimes against humanity over his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

House Resolution 780 highlighted that Duterte’s “remarkable accomplishments brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism and terrorism, corruption in government and criminality” made the life of Filipinos “better, comfortable and peaceful.”

The resolution cited the need for immediate action to curb the country’s serious and rampant illegal drug situation at the time when Duterte took office, as the drug problem was becoming an “existential threat to the country’s social fabric.”

"The country's peace and order situation considerably improved due to the Duterte administration's holistic and whole nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country that resulted [in] unprecedented growth in exports and investment," the resolution read.

Underscoring the Philippines’ "functioning and independent" judicial system, the resolution quoted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who called the ICC’s intent to resume its investigation against Duterte’s anti-drug campaign as “insulting” and “totally unacceptable.”

Remulla has reiterated the government’s position that the ICC can rightfully conduct proceedings only in states without a functioning government and justice system.

“We are doing what it takes to fix the system. We have a functional judicial system and I don’t see where they can come in unless they want to take over our legal system and take over our country. I don’t see that happening,” Remulla said.

He said the “unreasonable” decision is not welcome in the Philippines and the Department of Justice “will not stand for any of these antics that tend to question our sovereignty and our status as a sovereign country.”

Other authors of the resolution were Representatives Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Aurelio Gonzales, Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Jose Alvarez, Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Richard Gomez, Wilton Kho, Loreto Amante, Edward Hagedorn, Edwin Olivarez, Eric Martinez, Eduardo Rama Jr., Dale Corvera, Zaldy Villa, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Johnny Pimentel and Marilyn Primicias-Agabas. (PNA)

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