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ICC arrest order ‘worthless’
By Nidz Godino
“We know when ICC investigators came into the Philippines, already violation of our sovereignty…we know they were not prevented from investigating,” , former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said prospect of being ordered arrested this year by International Criminal Court doesn’t worry former president Rodrigo Duterte, as any arrest warrant UN-backed ICC might issue would be “worthless and useless.”
In separate text messages former Duterte officials , executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, Roque, and chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said reports on impending issuance of arrest warrants by ICC should not be taken seriously as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself had ruled out cooperating with court.
Roque has credible information that Marcos administration did not stop ICC investigators from entering the country.
He also found it disturbing that administration has refused to put in writing its commitment not to cooperate with ICC.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV , staunch Duterte critic said ICC is expected to issue arrest warrants by midyear against Duterte and later in batches for his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and several other individuals.
ICC is investigating deaths of thousands of suspected drug offenders in conduct of former president’s war on drugs.
Panelo said assuming Trillanes’ pronouncements were true, such arrest orders were worthless and should be ignored considering that Marcos had already reaffirmed his predecessor’s position that ICC has no jurisdiction over Philippines.
“Discredited renegade just wants publicity for himself…he has become totally irrelevant,” Panelo said, referring to Trillanes.
He maintained Marcos had “emphatically declared government will not cooperate, in whatever form or shape, with ICC.”
Medialdea, meanwhile, said ICC has become “recurring” issue “every time issue as big as PDEA agent’s revelation would come out.” He was referring to testimony before Senate by former agent of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency linking Marcos to illegal drugs. PDEA has already denied allegation.
“It’s as if this administration is seeking retribution…targeting FPRRD in this kind of scenario will not work FMJ is facing huge leadership problem including alleged use of drugs,” Medialdea said, referring to the former president and to Marcos by their initials.
“Marcos image might even worsen if they continue doing it this way…they must face this squarely and responsibility to recoup its image,” he said.
According to Medialdea, Duterte would feel “numb” every time he hears ICC, “Deadma nya yan.”
He also said Trillanes “is just kibitzer craving for attention…let’s not take him seriously.”
Roque said ICC investigators were allowed into the country by Bureau of Immigration even without hiding their identities.
“Investigators were able to enter Philippines and we know immigration bureau is under executive… investigators did not hide their identities, that’s why we have record when they entered and left the country,” he added.
Roque did not disclose when ICC investigators supposedly entered Philippines, but said it was shortly after House of Representatives passed resolution encouraging Marcos to cooperate with ICC last November.
Citing information he received, Roque also said “high-level government officials met with investigators” during their visit.
He did not identify officials, but said one is “ second highest government salaried classification…one notch lower than salary grade of the President.”
Government officials who receive salary grade one notch lower than the President are Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice.
On reports that arrest warrants may soon be issued against former president, Roque stressed matter is “not as simple as putting him in private plane and bringing him to The Hague.”
“Legally, court has no jurisdiction, and we will exhaust all legal remedies, including of course the fact that it is mandatory to face Philippine courts first before they can actually bring accused to ICC,” he added.
Roque confirmed split in UniTeam and that it was Marcos’ flip-flopping on ICC issue that dealt alliance fatal blow. UniTeam is campaign tandem of the two highest officials of the land.
He noted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s making 360 degree turn in November when he said ICC cooperation needs further study.
“After 360-degree turn, they refused now to reduce in writing non-cooperation with ICC, further worsened relationship,” he added.
Roque also described Trillanes as “full of hot air” for claiming he was serving as “facilitator” between ICC and some witnesses. “I’m not aware of position of facilitator,” he added.
The former senator has been in touch with ICC representatives since its preliminary examination, during conduct of investigation, and up to junking of Duterte’s appeal.
“Warrant will be released late second quarter, so we can say middle of the year, maybe June or July, that will actually happen…so it is waiting game at this point,” Trillanes said.
Apart from Duterte and his daughter, among other personalities reportedly investigated by ICC in connection with controversial drug war are his “tokhang” enforcer Sen. Ronald de la Rosa and former aide Sen. Bong Go.
More than 6,000 drug suspects had been killed in previous administration’s drug war based on government data. However, human rights groups said number of dead could be several times higher.
At forum organized by Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines last month, Marcos said Philippine government would not hand over Duterte should ICC issue arrest warrant against him.
“We don’t recognize warrant, warrant that they will send to us,” Marcos said, asserting ICC has no jurisdiction over Philippines since country’s judicial system is working.
In February, he even called ICC investigation on Duterte’s drug war “threat” to country’s sovereignty.
In 2019, Philippines officially cut ties with international court after it launched preliminary probe on thousands of drug-related deaths during Duterte’s term.
Marcos was not inclined to rejoin ICC.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) said it’s still premature to comment on the matter.
“We’d rather not comment on that issue because these are not official information reaching the office of the chief PNP or any office of PNP for that matter,” police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said at press conference at Camp Crame.
She maintained country has working judicial system that can hear cases against police officers linked to abuses in implementation of Duterte’s crackdown against illegal drugs.
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