Go backs measure vs extraordinary rendition of Filipinos

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called on the government to ensure strict adherence to the Constitution before any Filipino citizen is surrendered to a foreign jurisdiction.

Co-sponsoring Senate Resolution No. 307, Go expressed the sense of the Senate in protecting Filipinos against extraordinary rendition — the extrajudicial transfer of a person from one country to another.

He argued that the measure is rooted in the constitutional guarantee that no person shall be deprived of liberty without due process.

“This is not merely a legal or procedural technicality, but a constitutional guarantee enshrined in our fundamental law,” Go said during a plenary session.

The senator stressed that the resolution is not intended to benefit any specific individual, nor is it limited to current proceedings before the International Criminal Court. He stated that the same legal standards must apply to any foreign entity or international body seeking jurisdiction over a Filipino.

“It is not a shield for the powerful, nor is it a refuge for the guilty,” Go said. “It is a reaffirmation that every Filipino, ordinary citizen or public official, stands equal before the law.”

Go also questioned why the government would allow foreign tribunals to intervene without first passing through local courts and maintained that upholding these legal safeguards does not obstruct international cooperation but ensures it operates within the bounds of Philippine law.

The resolution seeks to guarantee that any Filipino facing investigation or prosecution abroad is given reasonable time to seek redress from domestic courts before being moved outside the country’s jurisdiction.

Go has also urged his colleagues to adopt the resolution to protect national institutions and ensure constitutional fidelity.