Marcos-backed Alyansa fears 'effect' of Digong's arrest on sortie

TACLOBAN CITY—Former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson admitted Friday that the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte has affected the dynamics of the electoral campaign of the Marcos administration-backed senatorial candidates, citing the erstwhile leader’s solid and vast support base nationwide.

"I'll be very honest, it really affects [our campaign] because we cannot deny that he has a huge [number of] supporters, especially in Mindanao and even in Visayas. So there is actually [an impact]. Now, if you ask whether it is wrong or right, only time will tell,” Lacson told the media before the campaign rally of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in this city. 

Duterte made his first appearance before the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Friday night (Manila time) following his arrest in Manila on Tuesday for crimes against humanity related to his notorious war on drugs, which killed thousands.

Duterte’s children, including his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, have criticized the arrest, claiming that due process was not followed and that access to medical treatment was denied.

They questioned why the ICC—which they claim has “no jurisdiction” over the Philippines—took over the case despite the existence of domestic courts capable of handling it.

However, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, who is also seeking a Senate seat under the Alyansa ticket, argued that the ICC’s involvement is necessary, as it has the competence to deliver a fair and impartial trial for Duterte.

“I believe that the ICC is the right venue [because it will be] impartial and fair. Whatever the ICC's decision is, it will take a long time... It is something that we expect to be fair because we cannot influence the ICC. No one can influence them, especially here in the Philippines,” said Binay, a lawyer, in a same briefing. 

The Philippines officially cut ties with the Rome Statute in March 2019 after the ICC opened an investigation into Duterte’s anti-narcotics crackdown, accusing him of human rights abuses and violations.

The ICC, however, asserted that it still retains jurisdiction over any potential crimes against humanity that occurred before the country’s withdrawal.

In a Senate inquiry in October last year, former president Duterte admitted that he takes “full, legal responsibility” for the mass killings in his brutal war on drugs and that police officers should be spared from liability.

He also told the quad comm under oath that he encouraged police to provoke drug suspects to fight back as a pretext to kill them. 

Binay concurred with Lacson that the decision of the government to allow the arrest of Duterte through the orders of the ICC is having a significant effect on the campaign of their slate, who is the opponent of the PDP-Laban chaired by Duterte himself.

"We would be numb if we’re gonna say that we’re affected by the recent events.  Many have been criticizing us, saying they would not vote for us because we’re part of the Alyansa. I think we all want the same thing—we want justice.)

Nonetheless, the incumbent mayor of Makati expressed hope that voters will look beyond political affiliations and consider what the Alyansa ticket can bring to the table.

Lacson and Binay are part of the Alyansa ticket, which includes former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, re-electionist senators Ramon Bong Revilla, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, and Francis “Tol” Tolentino, as weel as boxing icon and former senator Manny Pacquiao, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, ACT-CIS Representative and former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, and Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.

The admin slate staged its ninth campaign in Leyte—a stronghold for Marcos—with an estimated 1.4 million registered voters.

Speaker Martin Romualdez has vowed to exhaust all efforts to secure the 12-member slate Alyansa senatorial candidates to have their own seats in the Senate in the upcoming polls.

"I guarantee that our President’s candidates will win big here in Tacloban City and Leyte. We will deliver a big victory for the Alyansa ticket,” the House chief said during the rally.

"Our President’s support is extensive and solid. I am sure that this will translate into votes for Alyansa candidates on 12 May,” the Leyte solon added.

Leyte is the turn of the Marcos’ mother, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who once served as representative of the province’s first congressional district in the House of Representatives.