Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Wants ICC Investigation To Start Tomorrow?
RODRIGO DUTERTE – The former President asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to speed up in their investigation saying he might die without having investigated.
For the first time, today, former Pres. Duterte appeared in the House Quad Committee hearing over the war on drugs of his administration. His attendance to the inquiry followed several instances when the former President snubbed the House invitation for a hearing.
There was an instance when Duterte was not feeling well so he was not able to attend the House hearing. At the recent hearing, his legal counsel said that the former Chief Executive has doubts on the independence and integrity of the House Quad Comm.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte also claimed that he has no money and going to Metro Manila may be costly for him as he is dependent on his retirement pay. He stressed that the House members do not scare him a bit — a response to a House Quad Comm member asking if the former Chief Executive is scared thus, he does not attend the hearing.
The attendance of the former President at the House Quad Comm hearing today was confirmed by former presidential counsel, Salvador Panelo. According to him, they will confront the House members as they were allegedly not informed that the hearing was rescheduled.
The mega panel’s leadership explained that Duterte and his lawyer were informed on Monday night regarding the rescheduling of the hearing and they did not receive any formal communication from his camp on his attendance by Tuesday noon. Meanwhile, the panel pushed through with the hearing today.
At the House Quad Comm hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte asked the International Criminal Court, more popularly called ICC, to come to the Philippines and start the investigation tomorrow as he might die without having investigated.
“Issue has been left hanging for so many years… Baka mamatay na ako, hindi na nila ako ma-imbestiga,” Duterte said.
According to the former President, if he is found guilty, he will go to prison and “rot there for all time”. The 79-year-old former President was the head of the decision that removed the Philippines from the jurisdiction of the ICC.
It was in 2019 when the Philippines left the ICC. The Marcos Jr. administration vowed not to cooperate with the ICC but will also not prevent them from getting statements and information. Senator Koko Pimentel recently called on Marcos Jr. to reconsider his decision and rejoin the Philippines to the ICC.
Sana. U deserved