ICC support serves ends of justice — House leaders

The resolutions filed in the House of Representatives to return the Philippines to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court are aimed at upholding justice in the country, especially for the underprivileged.

This was the assertion of Manila Rep. Benny Abante Jr., one of the proponents of the three pro-ICC resolutions, during the joint hearing of the House Human Rights and Justice Committees.

The resolutions, however, are seen by political pundits as directed against former president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is deemed a strong candidate for president in 2028.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez is also seen as a top contender for the presidency. But he and Vice President Duterte have denied eyeing the post this early.

A similar resolution was filed in the Senate by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The ICC had opened an investigation into the killing of drug suspects during the administrations of the elder Duterte as Philippine president and before that as mayor of Davao City.

The Philippine National Police said in a report in 2022 that about 7,000 people were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations during the six years that Mr. Duterte was president and implemented his "Oplan Tokhang" anti-drug war.

However, complaints filed with the ICC alleged that 20,000 to 30,000 people were killed extrajudicially during the government's anti-drug war.

"By cooperating with the ICC, we send a strong message that justice is blind and applies to all, regardless of socioeconomic status," Abante said.

The joint panel on Wednesday adopted House Resolutions 1393, 1477, and 1482, all of which seek the cooperation of the Philippines with the Hague-based International Criminal Court's prosecutors.

HR 1477, filed by Abante, who chairs the Human Rights Committee, with 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Ramon Gutierrez, will serve as the lead measure.

HRs 1482 and 1393, meanwhile, were filed by opposition lawmakers, namely, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and the three-member Makabayan bloc, Reps. Arlene Brosas, France Castro and Raoul Manuel.

Timing questioned

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte's incumbency and who served as the chief enforcer of the deadly drug war, has questioned the timing of the filing of pro-ICC resolutions in the House.

Dela Rosa said the House might weaponize the resolutions in the wake of the Romualdez-Duterte row that stemmed from the House's decision to realign the P650 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. The Vice President concurrently heads the DepEd.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales said that while the House respects Dela Rosa's stance, the lower chamber is "mandated to act on resolutions filed by its members regardless of political affiliation in the same manner that the Senate takes action on measures presented by senators."

The House leadership has claimed that the pro-ICC resolutions will not be accorded special attention and priority despite a dispute with ex-President Duterte, who called Congress the "most rotten" institution in the country.

During the House hearing, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra maintained that the Philippines is not legally bound to cooperate with the ICC. Nevertheless, he said, ICC prosecutors can go about their probe.

"We will not cooperate, but ICC investigators are free to come and do their job here," Guevarra told the lawmakers.