Senate willing to certify drug war probe transcript for ICC inquiry

MANILA, Philippines — Without hesitation, the Senate would be willing to certify and provide a copy of the transcript of the Senate’s probe into Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war should International Criminal Court (ICC) probers ask for one.

Senate President Chiz Escudero made the pronouncement in a statement on Monday in an ambush interview after he was asked if the chamber would certify a copy of the said transcript should ICC request it.

“Kung may mag-request na valid ang rason para i-request, ‘di mag-aatubili ang Senado na mag-certify ng kopya ng transcript ng hearing na isinagawa kaugnay sa [extrajudicial killings],” Escudero told reporters.

(If someone makes a request with a valid reason, the Senate will not hesitate to certify a copy of the transcript of the hearing conducted in relation to extrajudicial killings.)

“Pero syempre, hindi naman pwede kung sinu-sino lang basta-basta nang walang dahilan at rason,” he added.

(But of course, it’s not possible to just provide it to anyone for no reason.)

READ: Romualdez on quad comm drug war probe: House won’t yield to pressure

Earlier, Escudero said the transcript of the Senate’s drug war probe would probably be made “available to the public” so any government agency that wants to take sworn statements during the hearing may acquire a copy.

Likewise, the Senate chief previously said the upper chamber had not received any formal communication from probers of the ICC regarding Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.

READ: Senate drug war probe transcript sent to ICC – Trillanes 

Staunch Duterte critic and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, claimed that the transcript of the Senate hearing on the drug war, where Duterte admitted that he kept a “death squad” to crack down on suspects, was sent to the ICC.