Senator Robin Padilla voiced support for Senator Bam Aquino after Aquino reportedly said he would “ideally” prefer that cases involving alleged extrajudicial killings be heard in Philippine courts.
Padilla noted that Aquino was facing criticism from some allies for refusing to let foreign bodies take jurisdiction.
“Binabanatan daw si Sen. Bam Aquino ng mga kakampi niya dahil ayaw niya magpasakop sa mga dayuhan? My goodness! Sa amin, saludo kami sa iyo,” Padilla said.
The issue surfaced after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV questioned Aquino’s position on the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Padilla framed Aquino’s stance as a matter of national sovereignty, underscoring the importance of prioritizing domestic judicial processes.
The exchange highlights the ongoing debate over whether cases tied to Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign should be resolved by international tribunals or through Philippine courts.