Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa (MALACA脩ANG FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� and Senator Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa on Tuesday filed a petition asking the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the national government from cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on the Duterte administration鈥檚 war against drugs.
In a 94-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Duterte and Dela Rosa asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the government from assisting the ICC in any way.
This included enforcing ICC arrest warrants and summons and cooperating with any other individuals or foreign law enforcement coordinating or providing assistance to the Interpol or any foreign law enforcement agency assisting in the execution of ICC-issued warrants, red notices, or other legal actions pertaining to the Philippines.
The petition also seeks to have the SC order the immediate release of any individuals arrested amid the ICC investigation.
The respondents of the petition are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Gen, Rommel Marbil, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, former Immigration chief Norman Tansingco, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner.
In a chance interview with reporters, Davao-based lawyer Israelito Torreon鈥攚ho represented Duterte and Dela Rosa in filing the petition鈥攁rgued that the ICC lacked jurisdiction in the country since the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
鈥淭here, the Philippine government should no longer cooperate with the International Criminal Court, and all the actions therefore of the respondent are null and void and we call on the Philippine government to stick with the law, with the rule of law that since the Philippines is no longer a party to the International Criminal Court, then it has no business anymore cooperating with such body, including the International Police,鈥� said Torreon.
鈥淲e are earnestly praying to the honorable Supreme Court to grant us a temporary restraining order, restraining the Philippine government, the respondents from cooperating with the ICC, and to release outright from custody our beloved Former President Rodrigo Duterte, on the grounds that his detention now is illegal, unconstitutional, and has no basis under the law,鈥� he added.
The petition was filed the same day the former president was arrested upon his arrival in Manila on Tuesday morning.
As of posting time, Duterte is under police custody at the Villamor Airbase. (with reports from Keith Irish Margareth Clores, 黑料社 trainee)