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Former senator Leila de Lima’s acquittal from her drug charges is proof that the justice system of the Philippines is working and the country does not need the intervention of the International Criminal Court, President Marcos said yesterday.
“Maybe this is something we should show the ICC. The judiciary is working properly, our investigative services are working properly,” Mr. Marcos said.
“Former Senator De Lima has been acquitted. I don’t know what further comments there could be. She went through the process, and then got acquitted,” he added.
The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 on Monday cleared De Lima of the third and last charge of the series of drug-related cases filed against her in 2017, ending years of legal battles for one of the most vocal critics of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly drug war.
The ICC has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity under Duterte’s controversial drug war.
“We still stay with our position that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines because we have a working police force, we have a working judiciary, and do not require any assistance in that regard,” the President said.
For her part, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas urged the administration to reconsider and allow the ICC to investigate Duterte’s alleged human rights violations.
“Committee hearings can only do so much. The government must decisively act to provide justice for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime’s brutal drug war,” Brosas said.
“We need a thorough, impartial investigation by the ICC to uncover the full extent of the human rights violations committed and to hold the perpetrators accountable. Moreover, if the ICC decides to issue a warrant of arrest, the government must turn over Duterte and others who were involved,” she added.
Earlier, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said Duterte will not attend the House justice committee on the drug war.
“It would be unfair to him. I was the chief of the Philippine National Police and implementer of the war on drugs. If there are questions on the level of chief of PNP, I can answer,” Dela Rosa said.
But Dela Rosa said he is also not keen on attending the House probe.
“But the problem here, I choose not to attend. We have an option, they can invite us and we can also invite them, but we have the option not to attend,” he added. — Maricel Cruz & Macon Ramos-Araneta
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