Bataan 1st district Representative Geraldine Roman. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Geraldine Roman
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The next logical step that the Philippines should take after former President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 arrest is to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex, Roman said it is her view that the Philippines rejoins the ICC to show that the country respects human rights and obeys international laws.
Roman said this hours after Duterte was not allowed to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as local authorities assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in implementing the arrest order from ICC.
鈥淲e left the ICC unilaterally, I think it鈥檚 about time that we return to the ICC and show the whole world that this country respects our law and international law,鈥� she said in Filipino.
鈥淭here is nothing wrong with that my fellow Filipinos. The law is the only protection that people have against abuses, even us in positions of power need it.聽 This is the only assurance that our courts have bases to give us justice if we are aggrieved by anyone,鈥� she added.
According to Roman, rejoining ICC will be consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 goal to uphold the rule of law.
鈥淪o, my call is for us to return to the ICC.聽 If this is a position that recognizes a rule-based order around the world, then let鈥檚 walk the talk.聽 Let鈥檚 go back to the folds of the ICC because I believe that we have nothing to be afraid of.聽 I also believe that our President is intent on upholding the rule of law, and he has nothing to hide,鈥� she added.
In March 2018, Duterte declared that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC, claiming that there seemed to be a 鈥渃oncerted effort鈥� between the United Nations special rapporteurs and the ICC special prosecutor to paint him as a 鈥渞uthless and heartless violator of human rights who allegedly caused thousands of extrajudicial killings.鈥�
The ICC was already in the middle of investigating Duterte, who was charged with the crime against humanity of mass murder for his role in the war against illegal drugs, which rights defenders deemed as bloody.
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However, several legal minds and even former ICC prosecutors Fatou Bensouda and Karim Khan maintained that the international body still had jurisdiction over the cases filed against Duterte, as the cases were filed during and covered a period that the Rome Statute was still in effect.
The Rome Statute is the agreement that created the聽ICC.
READ: ICC prosecutor asks for judicial authority to probe case filed vs Duterte
Roman said she was saddened by Duterte鈥檚 arrest as it may potentially divide the country again, but she understands too that the developments are just 鈥渘atural consequences.鈥�
Over the weekend, rumors were already spreading that the ICC would soon issue an arrest order for Duterte.聽 During this time, the former president, his relatives, and key allies flew to Hong Kong to meet overseas Filipino workers.
In Hong Kong, the older Duterte addressed talks on the arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines鈥� benefit.
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However, several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations.
In August 2017, 17-year-old Kian delos Santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City even if he was not the original target of the operation.
The three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos were convicted of murder.
READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos 鈥� court