The Makabayan Bloc in Congress has strongly denounced the Senate’s resolution urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest, calling the move as a political maneuver meant to shield Duterte from accountability over alleged crimes against humanity tied to his bloody war on drugs.
In a statement, the progressive lawmakers said the resolution is “an insult” to the families of thousands of victims who were killed in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, describing it as a brazen attempt to obstruct international justice.
“Ang resolusyon na ito ay isang insulto sa mga pamilya na nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay dahil sa walang habas na paglatay sa pekeng drug war ni Duterte. Ito ay hindi tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng awa, kundi sa pagpapatuloy ng kawalan ng pananagutan,” said Rep. Sarah Elago.
The group also questioned the credibility of one of the resolution’s sponsors, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was himself named in ICC documents as a possible co-perpetrator in the killings linked to the drug war.
“How can someone involved in a crime pass a resolution about it and to his benefit? This just proves that the Dutertes are still very powerful in the Philippines and no justice can be achieved if he is tried here,” Rep. Antonio Tinio said.
The bloc further rejected the Senate’s framing of the measure as an act of humanitarian concern. Rep. Tinio argued that the same lawmakers who now plead for Duterte’s welfare “showed no compassion for the thousands of urban poor and marginalized victims of state-sponsored killings.”
Rep. Renee Louise Co stressed that house arrest is not justice but “a mockery of the legal process.”
“This is nothing more than a political maneuver designed to protect Duterte and his cohorts from facing the full weight of international justice. The Senate is more concerned with protecting a former president than delivering justice to thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings,” she added
Elago, meanwhile, underscored the double standards in the Senate’s move, pointing out that numerous elderly and ailing political prisoners have not received similar concern or relief. “There is a terrible imbalance and double standard with this Senate resolution,” she said.
The Makabayan Bloc reiterated its call for the ICC to proceed with Duterte’s prosecution without compromise, vowing to stand in solidarity with the families of drug war victims.
“Justice demands that Duterte face trial for his crimes. House arrest is nothing but an insult to families who continue to seek accountability,” the bloc concluded.
