If elected president, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso vowed not to cover up or protect incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte from the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on alleged crimes against humanity.
“I will not prevent anything. Rule of law will be observed under my watch. Why not, if there is nothing to hide?” said Domagoso, Aksyon Demokratiko’s standard bearer in next year’s elections.
Domagoso said he will allow the ICC prosecutors in the Philippines to conduct their own investigation.
“Anyway they’re just investigating. It doesn’t mean you’re guilty or not,” he said in an interview over ANC’s Headstart.
According to the Manila mayor, he would not prevent the proceedings from moving forward.
“For the sake of conversation, even with their findings, you still have to be prosecuted and it doesn’t mean you’re guilty – there’s nothing to lose,” he said.
“If we can gain some level of respect from our neighboring countries and they will see that we are certain about our rules, then why not?”
He said his job would then be to “protect every citizen of this country,” but that would not mean he would shield anyone from international scrutiny.
“There won’t be any cover up,” he said.
“We have to be certain about our rules. But definitely, I will not lift a finger to cover or help either side or press unto anyone or exact revenge,” he added.
The ICC’s investigation will cover killings since Duterte assumed office in July 2016 until the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute on March 16, 2019.
It will also look into killings in Davao City from November 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016, when Duterte served as mayor and vice mayor.