Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Thursday came to the defense of his fellow senator, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and former president Rodrigo Duterte, following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be issuing warrants of arrest for some duly elected Philippine officials over the country’s “war on drugs.”
The international court decided to pursue its investigation on the Philippines’ drug war with three judges voting in the affirmative, and two others, including ICC Chief Judge Mark Perrin de Brichambaut, voting negative.
In a press statement, Revilla said he is perplexed by the ICC’s pursuit of the “obvious baseless persecution” while legitimate concerns and crimes against humanity are being “perpetrated in other parts of the world as we speak.”
"It is obvious the ICC's interest here is not justice but something else entirely. Binobomba at pinapatay ang mga sibilyan, guro, mga bata, at mga musmos sa ibang panig ng mundo pero si Bato at Duterte ang pinanggigigilan nila (Civilians, teachers, children, and the innocents are being bombed and killed in various parts of the world, but they are focusing their attention on Bato and Duterte)," he said.
"The ICC, with its patent partiality, which is so manifestly politically motivated, has totally lost its credibility. These bullies are driven by their own selfish interests, and they cannot fool us into thinking that they can discharge justice."
Revilla echoed Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri's pronouncement that the Senate would extend its protection over its members and would not in any way surrender its integrity and independence, "especially to foreign interests."
He also emphasized that if anybody should be held liable, it should be under Philippine laws and not foreign jurisdiction.
"Hindi tayo papayag sa malinaw na panghimasok na susubukang gawin ng ICC sa ating bansa (We will not allow the blatant interference that the ICC is trying to do to our country). We do not need to remind them that we are a free, independent, and sovereign nation governed by our laws," Revilla said. "Kung mayroong pananagutan, sa batas ng ating bansa dapat managot, hindi sa mga dayuhan (If someone is liable, he or she should answer before the law of our country, not before foreigners)."
In a previous statement, he said Duterte's unwavering war on drugs was backed by the Filipino people and was credited by communities for the restoration of peace and order.
In March, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines would completely “disengage” from the ICC after the Hague-based tribunal rejected the Philippine government’s initial request to suspend the drug war probe. (PNA)
