Daily Tribune
Who else but the eminent former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has joined the voices against the International Criminal Court (ICC), pointing out “contradictions” between the detention of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the lack of action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mahathir argues that Netanyahu is accused of “more serious” crimes but has escaped arrest due to his power, criticizing the supposed double standards in the ICC’s actions against suspected criminals.
“(Duterte’s detention) is according to international law. But of course, it is only applicable when the person is not powerful enough to resist or deny the right of the ICC,” Mahathir was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini, a popular publication in Kuala Lumpur.
“Netanyahu is also a criminal and has been found to have committed more serious crimes, where thousands of people have been killed,” he added.
“The ICC is not able to do anything and has to see the crime being committed over and over again,” Mahathir told reporters, referring to the Israeli leader.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in November last year for alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories, but he ignored the tribunal’s order and even visited the United States last month.
He plans to visit Hungary next month, marking his first visit to a European country since the ICC issued its arrest warrant. Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was also ordered arrested.
Duterte was arrested on 11 March and surrendered by Philippine authorities to the ICC based on an arrest warrant over accusations of crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs.
Candidates in this major city vying for seats in the House of Representatives are taking the well-worn path of making grandiose promises to court voters — often using public funds.
Two candidates have been exploiting the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) as early attempts at vote buying.
One of them was caught on social media, with photos showing his staff repacking DSWD relief boxes inside a private warehouse and compound, transferring them into bags printed with his name.
Another hopeful has been holding bingo parties — another thinly veiled form of election bribery — during visits to barangays. A female congressional candidate, the main rival of the one repackaging DSWD relief boxes, has her own scheme to lure voters.
Voters are transported in vans to a newly built building outside the district, which she owns, where they are registered and given up to P3,000 in monthly payouts to secure their votes in the midterms — ensuring they write her name instead of her rival’s.
The poor voters in this city, caught in a battle among traditional politicians (trapos), will ultimately have to choose the lesser of many evils.
