“Pick your poison.”
This was the message of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for President Rodrigo Duterte, after a New York Times editorial said the International Criminal Court (ICC) must immediately start a preliminary investigation based on the complaint filed by lawyer Jude Sabio.
Trillanes believes the ICC will “step in” and hear the complaint filed against Duterte, saying the evidence is “quite substantial.”
“He declared a policy of killings that left thousands of Filipinos slaughtered. He didn't lift a finger to stop it. Worse, Duterte even encouraged it,” Trillanes said.
“With that, the only requirement left before ICC could assume jurisdiction is whether the local courts are unwilling and unable to prosecute him. But since Duterte has presidential immunity, the only way for our courts to prosecute Duterte is when he is impeached,” he explained.
“In other words, if his allies railroad the impeachment complaint, the ICC steps in. So, pick your poison, Mr. Duterte,” Trillanes added.
An impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The NY Times editorial titled "Let the World Condemn Duterte" said the President is “a man who must be stopped” because of his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Senator Grace Poe, for her part, called for a “fair” probe before the international court.
“Para sa akin may mga kaso na nakasampa na nga sa international court. Dapat ay sa mga bagay na ganyan ay magkaroon ng patas na paglilitis,” Poe said.
The ICC complaint filed by Sabio, lawyer of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, accused Duterte of crimes against humanity over the alleged killings perpetrated by the so-called Davao Death Squad and the current administration’s war on drugs.
Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Monday said the complaint against Duterte at the ICC will not prosper as the administration's campaign against illegal drugs is not a crime against humanity.
SOURCE: msn
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