International Criminal Court Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti yesterday called the Senate resolution urging house arrest for former President Rodrigo Duterte “pure noise”, saying it will not affect the ICC’s jurisdiction on the case.
Conti said the move may be used by the prosecution as proof that Duterte still holds influence in Congress, which can potentially hinder the Duterte defense team’s bid for interim release.
The Senate resolution was filed by Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri. MThe resolution urges the ICC to designate a doctor to examine Duterte “and ascertain that he is fit to withstand regular detention.”
Out of 20 senators present in the plenary, 15 voted yes, three voted no, and two abstained in the motion to adopt proposed Senate resolution No. 144.
In explaining her “no” vote, Hontiveros emphasized that if Duterte is really sick, he should be taken to the hospital in The Hague and be given appropriate help and support by the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands.
Pangilinan, meanwhile, said that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, it is his duty to side with those who are seeking justice.
“Libo-libo ang pinatay. Libo-libo pa ang nawalan ng ama, ng ina, ng anak—-na ang hiling ay hustisya. Tama rin na humingi ng hustisya. Saan tayo papanig? Tama may basehan ang humanitarian konsiderasyon. Ngunit may basehan rin yung daing at dalamhati at yung masasaktan na libo-libo nating kababayan na pinatay. Saan tayo? Humanitarian consideration o sa mga daing na hinihiling ang hustisya?” Pangilinan asked.
Senators who voted for the resolution said that if the designated doctor finds that Duterte’s continued detention “will further worsen his medical condition, the ICC is urged to allow the former president to be detained under house arrest.”
They said that the house arrest or similar arrangement would be subject to conditions set by the ICC.
