Dela Rosa: House reso urging ICC probe cooperation must be ‘acted upon favorably by President’

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa remains unfazed by House resolutions urging the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in pursuing its investigation of former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs campaign. 

The House Resolution No. 1477, filed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider Partylist), called on the concerned government agencies and departments "to extend their full cooperation to the ICC Prosecutor with respect to its investigation of any alleged crime within the jurisdiction of the ICC."

HR 1477 is the second resolution filed in the lower chamber after Makabayan bloc lawmakers, including House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, filed the HR 1393 for the same purpose.

Dela Rosa, who was the Philippine National Police chief, during the Duterte administration, said. "If that resolution is approved by the House of Representatives, it will remain a resolution unless acted upon favorably by the President who has made clear his decision not to allow ICC to intrude on our sovereignty."

"These government agencies are taking orders from the President and not from Congress," he added.

In February, Duterte's allies in the upper chamber filed a resolution defending the previous administration's war on illegal drugs campaign from the investigation effort of the Hague-based ICC.

Senate Resolution 488, filed by Senator Robinhood Padilla seeks "to declare unequivocal defense of Duterte in any investigation or prosecution by the ICC."

In March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines "essentially disengaged" with the ICC, following the rejection of the international court to the government's plea to suspend its probe on the country's anti-drug war campaign.

The resolution, which was referred to the House Committee on Justice for deliberation, stated. "The Philippine government's initial request for the ICC Prosecutor to defer its investigation, and the Philippine government's subsequent petition before the ICC Appeals Chamber, clearly demonstrate that the Philippine government respects the rule of international law and recognizes the proceedings of the ICC."