“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – MAYA ANGELOU.
*******
A brave and Lapu-Lapu-like stance did SOJ Crispin Remulla portrayed a couple of days ago after the International Criminal Court rejected the appeal of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra not to pursue the investigation of Philippine officials re the countrys illegal drugs campaign during the previous administration.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and then PNP Chief and now senator Ronald dela Rosa were the particular personalities involved.
Remulla called the continuing ICC action as “a stark symbol of colonialism.”
Remulla did not minced words when he labeled the ICC stance as “meddling with the Philippine justice system.”
The DOJ expressed deep disappointment and Remulla reiterated that the Philippines will no longer entertain any ICC communique and cease to coordinate with them.
He warned the ICC not to try entering the country as it would be a “usurpation of authority of the Philippine government.”
Remulla echoed the OSG’s position that the ICC decisiion is a complete disregard of the principle of complementarity under international law.
This categorical pronouncement from the SOJ tells us that Remulla will not bow to the whims and caprices of any international agency like the ICC which does not have jurisdiction over the country.
Remulla declared: “The ICC’s rejection of our appeal is based on a flawed interpretation of its own jurisdiction…it fails to acknowledge that the Philippines has a functioning and capable domestic legal system that is fully capable of investigating and prosecuting crimes within its jurisdiction.”
What I understand is when our country has failed to exercise judicial functions and the democratic legal processes are no longer in place, this is the time the ICC can proceed.
(In Myanmar, for instance, human rights violations by the military junta are so gross that the ICC shoud focus its eyes on this Southeast Asian country.
Unless of course if Myanmar is not a signatory to the Rome statute and therefore not a member of the ICC.)
Curiously, ICC judges differed in their understanding of the Philippine problem.
Instead of a unanimous decision, two of the five members held contrary opinions which meant that the pursuit of the ICC probe did not carry as much credible weight as it should have, if all five members voted unanimously to pursue it.
We are taken aback by the reactions of some oppositionists who think that the Philippines should itself submit to the ICC probe.
Remulla, speaking to the media in Pilipino, said: “Hindi naman tayo nagugulat sa sa sinasabi ng ICC. Natutuwa nga tayo na itong desisyon na ito hindi suportado ng lahat naroroon sa ICC. Sa limang ‘yan tatlo sumuporta, dalawa ang kumontra…isang bagay na nagsasabi na nasa tamang landas tayo ng pag-iisip tungkol sa sovereignty ng Pilipinas, na hindi tayo pwede magpasakop sa mga taong nais pakialaman ang sistemang histisya sa ating bansa.”
Very well said, Sir.
Our citizens should now understand who among our so-called national leaders possess evil, selfish and treasonous intent that they would delight in seeing the country bow to the whims and caprices of foreign interests.
The Philippines is no longer tied to the apron strings of Uncle Sam and Pinoys, despite the hassles and struggles that a Third World country such a ours has been encountering, are keeping faith with the democratic ideals left to us by our forefathers as their legacy.
Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros wants the Philippines to cooperate and put itself under the mercy of the ICC because she believes our jusitce system is a failure.
In a statement, she said: “This is an important first step in achieving justice for the victims, the widows and the orphans of the war on drugs.”
Hontiveros even pressed Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the members of the executive department to cooperate with the probe “so that true justice is obtained.”
The good senator does not realize that the ICC is meddling with our own internal affairs, does she? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
