Why invite the ICC to the Philippines?
SEN. Francis Tolentino said they have “invited” officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) “to attend” a yet-to-be-announced inquiry regarding two resolutions in the chamber condemning that “corrupt organization” (as former US president Donald Trump describes the ICC).
In the statement, Sen. ‘Tol’ Tolentino also said they would also be inviting former president Rody Duterte to the inquiry to be conducted by the Senate Committee on Human Rights that he also chaired (aside from the Blue Ribbons Committee), who has been the focus of the ICC’s biased charges and for which they wanted him investigated.
Well, not too long ago, in fact, only last March 28, President Marcos Jr. announced that the country is totally “disengaging” from “any contact” with the ICC for allegedly insisting to indict not only PDU30 but more pointedly, the country’s functioning judicial system and our national sovereignty.
In the eyes of the ICC, we are a people still living on trees not too long ago that the entire world cannot possibly believe that we are already a civilized people with institutions comparable to theirs.
If the actual intention of Tolentino is to showcase to the world that, yes, Uncle Sam, we have a functioning democracy and institutions at par with Western standards while giving all the chances for Mayor Rody to defend himself, it is either he is naïve or out of touch with reality.
If he also believes that the Senate shall have “compete control” of the situation once the ICC officials arrive, he would also be mistaken.
For the reality is that, repeatedly, thru then Justice Secretary and now Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, we have made presentations and remonstrations with the ICC. Too, DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla, twice or thrice and for as many times as necessary, made his own pitch and presentation not only with the ICC but before the international human rights commission. But all their efforts were in vain.
Why? Simply because the ICC has already made up its mind—it wants to see another world leader like Duterte indicted and yes, humiliated, if only to restore some vestiges of its tattered credibility. Remember George Bush Jr. and his destruction of Iraq over the phantom “weapons of mass destruction” of Pres. Saddam Hussein? The comparison is near enough in that by hook or by crook the West always wants to get what it wants.
Of late, the ICC indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin and wants him arrested based on some false “news reports” and plain lies coming from Ukraine but heck, let us see them try their luck on him, haha!
My point is, whatever his real motive or motives for inviting the ICC here, Sen. Tolentino is only giving it the credibility it does not deserve while assuring them of another platform to ventilate their lies against our country.
But if he is aiming for national disunity, he would succeed marvelously!
He would also be putting in peril the Philippine Senate’ own dignity and respect should his plan push through.
“Esep-esep” din naman pag may time, hays!
