THE House committees on justice and human rights on Wednesday began discussing resolutions urging the Marcos administration to cooperate in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the bloody war on drugs.

The joint panel initially deliberated House Resolution (HR) No. 1477 filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” M. Abante, chairman of the House committee on human rights, and 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Ramon L. Gutierrez, and HR 1393 filed by the Makabayan bloc that includes Partylist Reps. France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party and Raoul Danniel Manuel of Kabataan.

However, the committees decided to defer discussions on the twin resolutions to allow the presence of more resource persons and wait for Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman’s similar resolution.

“Considering that the ICC prosecutors have jurisdiction to investigate former President Duterte and his co-respondents, in compliance with world order and the rule of law, the concerned agencies of the Philippine government must perforce cooperate with the ICC investigators,” Lagman told the joint panel. “The ICC judges, in denying the appeal of the Philippines, urged the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC investigators. The ICC judges noted that the relevant ‘ensuing obligations remain applicable, notwithstanding the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Statute.’

This includes the Philippine government’s obligation to cooperate with the ICC concerning the investigation. The Philippines must cooperate. Otherwise, it will be a renegade in the community of nations.”

According to Abante, the call of their resolution is simple: “We are urging the appropriate government instrumentalities to extend their full cooperation to the ICC Prosecutor with respect to its investigation of any alleged crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC.”

“My friends, cooperating with the ICC should be construed as an effort by the Philippines to uphold human rights, as we recognize that a fair and impartial investigation is essential to address allegations of human rights abuses. This is not just about the international community; it is about standing up for the rights and dignity of our own citizens. Let me stress that this resolution is also about protecting the human rights of those being investigated by the ICC––their right to due process, their right to be innocent until proven otherwise,” Abante said.

“At the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, we are all accountable to our constituents and have sworn an oath to protect them by preserving and promoting the Rule of Law. Today, this representation seeks your support as we continue to work to uphold the welfare of our people,” Abante added.

While he respects the Philippine government’s refusal to cooperate with ICC, Gutierrez said, “the recognition that foreign policy and administration of justice are properly within the ambit of its powers, it is this representation’s humble opinion that this unwillingness to cooperate, in light of recent developments, is misplaced and unnecessarily blots our reputation on the world stage.”

“This resolution here today is to urge the executive, through its relevant government departments and agencies, to extend its full cooperation with the prosecutor of the ICC. That is, to give due course to the investigation and restore our nation’s reputation as one respecting the rule of law and human rights. To be clear, We do not doubt the DoJ’s (Department of Justice) capacity to prosecute relevant crimes, and we remain confident in our Judiciary and justice system,” Gutierrez said.

“We are simply of the opinion that the complimentary nature of the ICC, and our cooperation with them, can only serve to bolster our own dispensation of justice. We believe that ignoring the proceedings and repeatedly falling back to the argument of jurisdiction does not promote our interests, especially given the fact that no less than the Supreme Court in a 2021 decision ruled that the ICC maintains jurisdiction on the matter,” he said.

“We must cooperate with the investigation, that it may shed light on the matter, and allow responsible parties to answer the allegations, if any. It is our sincere hope that our fellow members of Congress here today see the issue in the same light, as we now pray for the passing of this resolution,” Gutierrez added.

“Bawal ang death penalty sa bansa pero sa pamamagitan lamang ng placard na nagsasabing drug pusher ako ‘wag tularan at ng salitang nanlaban ay mistulang malaya nang pumatay ng kapulisan at ang iba pang mga kriminal. Walang due process na naganap. Kinalabit lang ang gatilyo ng baril. Ang inamin ng kapulisan, mahigit 6,000 ang pinatay o napatay sa kanilang anti-drug operations.

Ayon naman sa tala ng human rights organization, aabot sa 12,000 hanggang 30,000 ang bilang ng drug-related na mga pagpatay. Hindi pa kasama rito ang iba pang mga kaso ng extrajudicial killings at iba pang human rights violations na walang kinalaman sa droga,” Castro said.

“Hindi lamang ito numero, Mr. Chairs. Bawat isa sa mga biktima ng vigilante killings ay isang ama, ina, anak, kapatid, kamag-anak, kaibigan at kapitbahay. Hindi isolated case ang pagkamatay nina Kian delos Santos, Althea Barbon, Carl Arnaiz at Reynaldo de Guzman. Maraming kabataan at mga inosente ang ninakawan ng buhay at kinabukasan na kailanman ay hindi na muling maibabalik. Ang malala pa ay hanggang ngayon, ang hustisya ay ipinapanawagan ng mga pamilyang naulila, at hindi pa rin ito nakakamit. Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap. Noong ika-walo ng Pebrero 2018, binuksan ni dating ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda ang preliminary examination over the human rights violations over the Duterte administration’s war on drugs,” Castro added.

“Ang Pilipinas ay isa sa mga iilang bansa sa Asya na originally ay miyembro ng International Criminal Court. Isa sana itong paraan para maging modelo ang ating bansa sa pagtataguyod ng karapatang pantao. Kaso nga lang, dahil sa naging kondukta ng war on drugs ng nakaraang administrasyon at dahil sa takot nito na maimbestigahan at makita ng international community ang ating war on drugs, kaya lumabas ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas mula sa International Criminal Court,” Manuel for his part said.

“Pero buti na lang din dahil nandiyan pa rin ang mga panawagan na ma-exhaust natin ang lahat ng pamamaraan para mahanap ang hustisya sa lahat ng mga naging biktima at kumilos ang International Criminal Court. Habang natapos na ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, pero kamusta ba ang epekto ng War on Drugs? Nandyan pa rin ang illegal drug trade, nandyan pa rin ang malalaking mga drug lords and drug traders. Pero ano naman ‘yung mga nawala? Tens of thousands of lives, kasama ang mga kabataan. Kasama sa mga nawala ay libu-libong mga pangarap.

Kasama sa mga nawala ay ang unity ng mga pamilya na sana ay nais lamang na magkaroon ng mas maayos na buhay at dahil sa mga kondisyon kagaya ng kahirapan at limited na options sa kanilang buhay at dahil din sa kakulangan ng sapat na tulong sa kanila ay napunta sila sa mga ganitong tipo ng aktibidad,” Manuel added. “It is actually a call for us in the government to ensure a humane response to the drug problem at hindi ang naging madugong giyera kontra droga. With that, hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kapwa mambabatas na suportahan ang resolution na ito na nakahain sa joint committees.”