INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / Jerome Cristobal
MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel called on the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to come into the defense of former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte against any investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC.)
Pimentel is among the 19 House members who earlier filed a resolution seeking the lower chamber to stand for the “unequivocal defense” of Duterte in any ICC proceeding.
READ: Arroyo rallies House to defend Duterte vs ICC drug war probe
“It’s a wake-up call for this administration na itigil na iyang investigation ng ICC (to stop the investigation of the ICC),” he said over ABS-CBN News’ Rundown on Friday.
The lawmaker said their resolution was “a show of our support, and it implies that this administration should also defend our former President, because this will set a bad example.”
Marcos broke his silence about the ICC shortly after he clinched the presidency in June last year. He said the Philippines has no intention of rejoining the ICC after his predecessor in 2019 withdrew the country from the Rome Statute–the founding treaty of the international tribunal.
READ: Bongbong Marcos: PH won’t rejoin ICC; critics hit decision
‘No evidence’
Pimentel parrotted the explanation of the government in asserting that investigations on the drug war killings are already being done by Philippine law enforcement bodies.
But the ICC, in its decision to resume the full-blown investigation on the Duterte administration’s alleged crimes against humanity, expressed dissatisfaction over the Philippine government’s probe.
READ: ICC resumes full-blown probe of Duterte drug war
Pimentel, however, claimed that “there is no evidence–very clear evidence linking extrajudicial killings to former President Duterte.”
According to government figures, 6,252 individuals were killed in the brutal drug war from July 2016 to May 2022. But human rights groups estimate that this number could be three times more.
Pimentel also defended Duterte’s controversial “kill” remarks in relation to the drug war, noting that the former chief executive was “sort of emphasizing a point that we must achieve our objective on this war against drugs.”
“But to say that because he said this thing is evidence that he killed or ordered…he never ordered the killing of drug pushers. It’s not very clear,” he added.
READ: Duterte ‘kill’ remarks vs drug, crime suspects: Figures of speech or policy?
Then asked about Arturo Lascañas–the self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), which is also among the subjects of the ICC probe, Pimentel expressed belief that he is not a credible witness.
“I believe that witness is tainted. He worked with President Duterte before but along the way, there were probably some problems. He is just sourgraping,” he said.
Lascañas, who implicated Duterte in the DDS’ brutal executions, silently left the country in 2017 for his safety.