Two former senators criticized a petition filed before a Samar court questioning the authority of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the deaths of thousands of Filipinos during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.
Lawyer Fernando Perito in December filed a petition before the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court against the ICC.
He also asked the court to deport the investigators whom he believed were already in the country at the time.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, without naming Perito, said under Republic Act No. 9851 which defines crimes against humanity, among others,
“Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation.”
“Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court,” Trillanes said.
De Lima said Perito was the same lawyer who filed a case against her when she was then Justice Secretary after she defied a temporary restraining order on the hold departure directive against former President Gloria Arroyo in 2011.
“Atty. Fernando Perito is the same lawyer who filed a disbarment case against me for allegedly defying the Supreme Court TRO. Atty. Perito now wants to stop the ICC from investigating Duterte. We can only surmise who are the people behind him supporting Duterte,” De Lima said.
A former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Leyte chapter earlier said Perito’s petition “lacks a cause of action.”
“My prediction is this petition will be dismissed by the court for want of legal standing to sue…What is his (Perito) legal standing to file the action? Is he a proper party? Is he part of those who will be investigated by the ICC?” lawyer Alberto Hidalgo said.
Trillanes and former Bayan Muna party-list congressman Neri Colmenares earlier said they believe the ICC has wrapped up its investigation into the crimes against humanity charge against Duterte.