The Senate minority bloc is preparing a resolution urging respect for the Philippine judicial system, insisting that any International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Filipinos must first be processed through local courts.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emphasized the need to consider all legal technicalities, treaties, and laws.
“Tingnan nyo na lahat ng technicalities, tingnan nyo na lahat ng treaties, lahat ng batas. Ang essence, ang spirit ng ating konstitusyon ay kung may problema, pwede kang tumakbo sa Philippine courts,” Cayetano said on Wednesday.
“Hindi naman pupwede na pag sinabi ng ICC o kahit anong international court na may arrest, dadamputen mo na lang dito, dadalin mo sa ibang bansa. Kung ganun ang interpretasyon, napaka-delikado,” he added.
The move comes after Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Bong Go were named as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case in The Hague.
On Monday, Malacañang said the government would comply with ICC arrest orders if issued.
Cayetano acknowledged the human rights concerns of complainants but stressed the importance of local judicial processes.
“I do understand that there are emotions here. There’s human rights issues. Pero nababawasan ba yung human rights kung yung isang tao ay nakakatakbo muna sa korte?” he said.
Senator Robin Padilla echoed the sentiment:
“Gusto namin dumaan muna sa Korte ng Pilipinas.”
Senator Bong Go maintained his innocence, calling the allegations “entirely unfounded.”
“I firmly dispute the allegations in that document which are entirely unfounded at one-sided at napaka-unfair naman po yun sa parte ko. Alam naman po ng ating mga kababayan ang aking naging trabaho,” he said.
“So, dito po ako para mag-report, magtrabaho. Yan naman po ang aking sinumpaang tungkulin bilang senador. At hindi ko sasayangin yung tiwalang binigay po ng 27 million Filipinos,” Go added.
Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since news of the ICC arrest order surfaced.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he is awaiting a consensus from the Senate on how to proceed.