Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — Reiterating his stand against the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada called its investigators “white monkeys” and the prosecutor a “Pontius Pilate” in a hearing on Wednesday.
During his manifestation in a plenary session, Estrada said the country should not be pushed to follow instructions given by the investigators, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should be trusted.
“Kung sino man ang pinapunta ng ICC dito sa ating bansa — kung sino mang Poncio Pilatong prosecutor, itong mga puting unggoy na ito — hindi na dapat papasukin dito sa ating bansa because that will be an exercise in futility,” he said
[Translation: These people who were instructed by the ICC to come to the country — whoever this Pontius Pilate prosecutor, these white monkeys are — they should not be allowed to enter the country because that will be an exercise in futility.]
“I’m confident that the DOJ is not remiss in its primary mission to uphold the rule of law. We should trust our justice system at katulad nga ng sinabi ng aking matalik na kaibigan na si Senador [Robin] Padilla, hindi tayo dapat magpauto, (just like what my close friend Senator Robin Padilla said, we should not let them fool us),” he added.
Estrada on Monday filed Senate Resolution No. 492, expressing “strong opposition” to the ICC’s decision to resume its probe into the war on drugs.
Padilla, a staunch supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on the same day filed Senate Resolution No. 488, seeking to defend the former chief executive from investigation or prosecution by the ICC. Padilla also defended Duterte during his privilege speech on the resolutions.
“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,” he said.
“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.
[Translation: We are not tied to the ICC. However, our separation does not mean we are careless. It does not mean we are turning our backs against the issue. No, we are not slaves to foreigners. We should not be pushed around by them. Andres Bonifacio would not allow it. Jose Rizal would not allow it.]
Both senators brought up the government’s efforts in reviewing the war on drugs, which backed the argument that the Philippines has the responsibility and the right to prosecute criminals in the country.
READ: EXPLAINER: ICC and its authority
The discussion on human rights between Philippine senators and their counterparts from the European Parliament was said to have turned “intense” after the ICC probe was mentioned during a closed-door meeting.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said he cannot cooperate with the ICC probe into the drug war because the Philippines is a sovereign country and is no longer a colony of the former imperialists.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, however, warned that the country will suffer great consequences due to the Marcos administration’s refusal to cooperate with the ICC probe.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines from 2011 to March 2019, the period covered by the probe. Manila’s withdrawal from the international tribunal took effect in March 2019.
“I think a contumacious refusal to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICC makes the country a renegade in the community of nations, and would be a disincentive for foreign investors to come in,” Lagman told CNN Philippines.
