Dela Rosa tells Senate: We do not recognize ICC’s jurisdiction

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday said that although it was within the Senate’s authority to provide certified true copies of the drug war hearing transcripts to the International Criminal Court (ICC), doing so would be “tantamount to recognizing the ICC’s jurisdiction over the country.”

“Kung gusto nila, edi i-submit nila doon (If they want to, they can submit it there). But then kung nag-submit sila (If they submit it), I will try to question him (Senate President Chiz Escudero), why are you submitting to the ICC when we do not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC.

“Bakit (Why)? What? Kung magsusubmit nga tayo doon (If we submit there), that is tantamount to recognizing their jurisdiction over us. So I would ask him, ‘Why are you going to submit?'” dela Rosa said in a press briefing.

The Philippines formally withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 13, 2018, during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also reiterated last October 14 that the Philippines has no plans to rejoin the ICC.

His statement came amid calls for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to submit findings from a recent House quad-committee investigation, which included retired police colonel Royina Garma’s exposé, to the ICC as part of its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s drug war.

READ: ‘No ICC comeback for PH’ despite Garma’s drug war exposé – Bersamin

“Our government is very consistent in declaring that the ICC has no jurisdiction over us. So hopefully, although we are a co-equal branch of government with the executive, if the stand of the executive branch of government is that we don’t recognize ICC, then the legislative branch also will follow the same,” dela Rosa said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Dela Rosa added that government branches must follow a united stance regarding foreign policy, “taking the cue from the president.”

“Ang akin lang is dapat synchronized tayo lahat. Kapag sinabi ng Malacañang na hindi natin nirerecognize yung jurisdiction ng ICC, then hindi dapat natin i-recognize as a country, as a nation. So magkaisa tayong lahat, hindi yung iba ‘yung sinasabi ng Malacañang, iba ‘yung sinasabi ng Senado. Dapat magkaisa tayo. Ang akin lang naman dito ay hindi tayo magmukhang tanga as a nation,” dela Rosa said.

(My point is that we should all be synchronized. If Malacañang declared that we don’t recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, then we shouldn’t recognize it as a country or nation. We should all be united—Malacañang shouldn’t say one thing and the Senate another. We need to stand as one. My only point here is that we don’t look foolish as a nation.)

Next drug war hearing

According to the senator, the next drug war hearing might be scheduled sometime in November, as per Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.

“Kahit siguro hindi pa matapos ‘yung budget, basta sabi niya middle of November. Baka mamaya ‘yung budget namin, aabot at aabot pa yan ng December. Pwedeng while the budget deliberation is going on sa plenary, meron kaming time naman na mag-conduct ng hearing in the morning,” dela Rosa said.

(Even if the budget isn’t finalized yet, he said the drug hearing would be in the middle of November. Our budget deliberations might even go until December. While the budget deliberations are ongoing in the plenary, we can still have time to conduct hearings in the morning.)

Dela Rosa added that Duterte is unlikely to attend the next Senate hearing.

“Hindi na siguro [aattend] kasi nasabi naman na niya lahat at natanong naman na lahat ng gusto itanong sa kanya. Ayaw niya nga umalis ‘di ba, sabi niya, ‘Ayoko na bumalik dito, ang mahal ng pamasahe. Dapat tapusin na natin ito.’ Sabi naman ng mga senador, ‘Wala na kaming tanong sayo, sir. Pwede ka na magpahinga,'” the dela Rosa said.

(He probably won’t attend anymore because he’s already said everything, and all the questions they wanted to ask him have been asked. He even said he didn’t want to leave, saying, ‘I don’t want to come back here, the fare is expensive. We should wrap this up.’ The senators replied, ‘We don’t have any more questions for you, sir. You can rest now.’)

However, he clarified that Duterte may still be summoned if any statements made by invited resource persons — specifically retired Police Officer Royina Garma and retired Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo — involve him.

READ: Duterte expected at House quad comm hearing on drug war