Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa. Senate PRIB photo / Henzberg Austria
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 鈥淚 [would] rather be tried, convicted and even hanged before a Filipino court.鈥�
Senator Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa said this Monday after a pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has authorized the start of the probe into the crimes against humanity cases filed against President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the drug war killings.
Dela Rosa, Duterte鈥檚 first Philippine National Police chief, was known for spearheading the administration鈥檚 war on drugs.
鈥淚 am one of the co-accused together with the President. Being a Filipino鈥 rather be tried, convicted and even hanged before a Filipino court rather than [be] tried, convicted, and hanged before a foreign court,鈥� the senator said during the budget hearing of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the Senate.
鈥淚 would rather have a justice criminal system run like hell by Filipino judges rather than a聽 criminal justice [system] run like heaven by foreign judges,鈥� he added.
While the ICC has yet to name any suspects, the court鈥檚 Pre-Trial Chamber 1 cited Duterte and Dela Rosa for their public statements that supposedly incited or encouraged the killing of drug suspects.
鈥淏ecause being a Filipino, siguro naman [I think] it鈥檚 also my right, my human right to be tried before a Filipino court,鈥� Dela Rosa went on.
In response, CHR Chairperson Jose Luis聽Gascon reassured Dela Rosa that neither the Philippines nor the ICC imposes the death penalty.
鈥淪o yung last part po ninyo na [The last part of what you said] 鈥榟anged鈥� should not be a matter [of] concern鈥�,鈥� Gascon said.
鈥淲ag na natin yung [Alright, let鈥檚 not use] 鈥榟ang.鈥� Incarcerated forever, yun na lang [let鈥檚 use that], for being convicted of any crimes being contemplated by the ICC,鈥� Dela Rosa remarked.
Gascon then stressed the importance of cooperation on the part of the Philippine government.
He said that if the ICC sees that the country being investigated is 鈥渁ble and willing to investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of the most serious crimes,鈥� then it will no longer proceed with the probe.
鈥淪o what is critical is that we show to the entire world that the Philippine government is serious about addressing those issues that were brought to the attention of the ICC,鈥� Gascon said.
鈥楩补颈谤鈥�
But Dela Rosa raised concern over the fairness of the ICC investigation, claiming the court only receives reports from those with political motives.
He also insisted that the criminal justice system in the country is 鈥渨orking.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think so na we still have to prove to the whole world that our criminal justice is working,鈥� the former PNP chief said.
鈥淚 am confident naman na itong gagawin na imbestigasyon, kung magiging patas lang sila, they will see as clear as day kung ano talaga ang nangyayari dito sa Pilipinas,鈥� he added.
(I am confident that with the investigation, if they will be fair, they will see as clear as day what is really happening in the Philippines.)
But Gascon pointed out that there have been no 鈥渟ignificant鈥� convictions in the Philippines in relation to the killing of drug suspects.
鈥淵es, investigations have been ongoing. Unfortunately these investigations in relation to the war on drugs here have not led to significant convictions,鈥� he said.
Further, the CHR chief said the ICC observes certain standards in its investigation and will not rely on mere allegations.
鈥淟et me assure you that the ICC has established standards for the protection of the rights of victims as well as for the protection of the rights of the accused,鈥� Gascon told the senator.
鈥淭hat is why it has taken so long鈥t will not rely on mere allegations or statements, it will conduct a thorough independent verifiable process of uncovering evidence and truth and only if it has sufficient evidence will it proceed to charges filed and trial,鈥� he added.
Complaints against Duterte for his bloody drug war were filed by several rights groups and sectors critical of his anti-illegal drugs campaign like the Rise Up for Life and Rights, which is composed of drug war victims鈥� relatives and other rights advocates.
According to the group, Duterte has violated Article 7 of the Rome Statute for 鈥渨idespread and systematic attacks in the form of murder of thousands of civilians.鈥�
Malaca帽ang, for its part, earlier said the ICC鈥檚 investigation on the Duterte administration鈥檚 war on drugs is unlikely to move forward as the聽Philippine government still won鈥檛 cooperate.