International Criminal Court (ICC)-accredited lawyer Joel Butuyan believes that the recently filed Senate resolution urging the ICC to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest was designed to divert public attention from the ongoing flood control corruption scandal.
“Ang nakikita kong game, or play dito, ay gusto nilang isantabi ‘yung mainit na usapin tungkol sa flood control corruption scandal kaya inihain ito para pang-deflect sa atensyon ng mga tao,” Butuyan said in an interview on DZMM Teleradyo on Thursday, October 2.
He added that several senators who supported the resolution appeared to be “somewhat involved” in the corruption controversy.
“Sabi nga ni Senator Ping (Lacson) eh, mangilan-ngilan lang ‘yung ‘di involved noh. Halos lahat [ay involved], so talagang makikita mo meron ‘yung play na ‘yan,” the lawyer remarked.
Butuyan suggested that the timing of the resolution was politically strategic, aiming to shift focus away from the flood control fund controversy, which has drawn increasing public outrage and scrutiny.
Earlier this week, 15 senators voted in favor of the resolution filed by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, calling on the ICC to consider placing Duterte under house arrest on “humanitarian grounds.”
Three senators voted against the measure, two abstained, while four were absent during the session.
The resolution came as the ICC continues its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s war on drugs—a campaign that has resulted in thousands of deaths and international condemnation.
Butuyan’s statement adds to the growing criticism that the Senate’s move could be an attempt to soften public discourse on the corruption allegations linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects, which remain the subject of legislative inquiries.