Even now there are rumblings, not exactly rumors, about a possible ‘Sara Duterte for President and Rodrigo Duterte for Vice President’ tandem
Following two resolutions of the House of Representatives for the Marcos administration to reconsider its membership in the International Criminal Court, to bring justice to the victims of extrajudicial killings during the bloody six-year war against illegal drugs of then President Rodrigo Duterte, many questions have cropped up, Santa Banana!
Foremost is whether or not President Marcos Jr will reconsider membership with the ICC since the ICC wanted to investigate further the brutal and bloody war against illegal drugs.
It was Duterte himself who had cut off the country’s membership during his term.
The ICC had sought further investigations in the many extrajudicial killings where some 6,000 were killed, per official records of the Philippine National Police, but unofficial estimates allege some 28,000 were killed.
The ICC had sought to investigate the killings under the Duterte administration, including allegations that during his time as longtime mayor of Davao City, there were killings by the reported Davao City “Death Squad.”
The ICC had wanted to probe deeper into all those killings as “crime against humanity.”
Corollary to the question whether or not BBM wants to resume membership in the ICC is whether or not the Marcos administration would allow the ICC to send investigators to the Philippines with the cooperation of the Marcos government.
If you recall, the reason why Marcos Jr. did not want to cooperate with the ICC was the government had wanted to have the exclusive right to investigate all those killings under its own justice system.
In fact, there already had been investigations on extrajudicial killings and some cases have been brought to court. But, we know the justice system grinds slowly.
It is now up to BBM to decide, knowing the consequences of his actions if membership in the ICC will resume.
Political implications
Whatever President Marcos Jr. will decide in connection with the House Resolutions on whether or not the Marcos government would resume membership in the ICC definitely would have political implications, considering that while the former President is now on his retirement and the fact that there are moves for his daughter Sara, who is now Vice President and concurrent education secretary, to break off what they call UniTeam.
With the resumption of ICC membership, the Hague-based International Court would surely enter the Philippines to investigate those killings under Duterte’s administration, and even when he was Davao City mayor.
Santa Banana, even now there are rumblings, not exactly rumors, about a possible “Sara Duterte for President and Rodrigo Duterte for Vice President” tandem!
We all know that in this country, people eat breakfast with politics, lunch and dinner with politics.
Don’t forget the statement of former senator Leila de Lima after her release from almost seven years in detention that the time of “reckoning” has come, referring to Duterte, whom she believes was responsible for her detention.
De Lima will certainly take the opportunity to help the ICC in case BBM will decide on resuming membership with the ICC, to pin down the former President’s bloody war against illegal drugs and “crimes against humanity.”
Any decision Marcos Jr. will make will surely have implications on politics.
Relatives and families of victims of the bloody war against illegal drugs are crying out for justice and accountability and that will weigh in on thousands were killed during Duterte’s six-year term.
Don’t forget, the coming of the ICC into the country to further investigate the killings under Duterte, not only as President, but as a long-time mayor of Davao City, will surely make headlines, Santa Banana!