Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday referred to as the investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC) “white monkeys” as he reiterated his opposition to the tribunal’s probe on the Duterte administration’s warfare on medication.
“Itong pinapupunta, kung sino man ang pinapupunta ng ICC dito sa ating bansa, kung sino mang poncio pilatong prosecutor, itong mga puting unggoy na ito, ‘di na dapat papasukin dito sa ating bansa because that will be an exercise [in] futility,” Ejercito mentioned.
“Hindi tayo dapat magpa-uto, di tayo dapat sumunod kung ano mang instructions na ibibigay sa atin nitong mga dayuhang unggoy na ito,” he went on.
The lawmaker mentioned he voted in favor of the accession to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, cognizant of the truth that the tribunal will likely be “respectful of our domestic institutions and of our sovereignty.”
“The ICC may only exercise jurisdiction when the domestic legal system fails to do so and this is not the case here, Mr. President,” Estrada mentioned.
“Our country’s justice system still is very, very active and is working in our country…That is why, Mr. President, I am confident that the DOJ is not remiss in its primary mission to uphold the rule of law. We should trust our justice system,” the lawmaker added.
Estrada made the remarks after Senator Robin Padilla delivered a privilege speech on the resolutions filed within the Senate defending former President Rodrigo Duterte from any ICC investigation and prosecution.
“Hindi na po tayo tali sa ICC. Gayunman, ang ating paghiwalay ay hindi nangangahulugan ng pagpapabaya. Hindi po ibig sabihin nito na tayo po ay tumatalikod sa isyu at hinahayaan na lang po natin ito. Hindi po,” Padilla mentioned.
“Hindi po tayo isang demokratiko at malayang bansa kung hahayaan nating makulong sa pang-uusig at paglilitis ng mga banyaga. Tayo po ay hindi na alipin ng mga banyaga. Tayo po ay hindi na pwedeng utus-utusan ng mga banyaga. Hindi po papayag si Andres Bonifacio. Hindi rin papayag si Jose Rizal,” he added.
“Kahit kanino po nilang gawing pangulo, isa pong malaking insulto ito sa atin kapag may dumating dito na banyaga at uutus-utusan po tayo at sila mismo ang magkukulong sa ating Pangulo,” he went on.
Estrada and Padilla filed two separate resolutions rallying behind Duterte amid the ICC probe.
Earlier within the day, the members of the Senate committee on justice and human rights met with their counterparts within the European Parliament to debate human rights problems with concern.
According to Hannah Neumann, the lawmakers from the Philippines and Europe had “constructive and fruitful” dialogue on these human rights points, particularly the ICC probe into the Duterte administration’s drug warfare.
Despite the dialogue, Neumann mentioned the EU maintains its help to the ICC investigation towards the drug warfare.
At a Senate listening to, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa claimed that the dialogue with the EU parliament members escalated as they’re “imposing their standards” to the Philippines.
He mentioned the parliament member from Spain was offended concerning the decision filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada defending Duterte from the ICC investigation.
Nuemann was joined by Miguel Urban Crespo, Karsten Lucke,Luc Veron, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, and Ryszard Czarnecki.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
