Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Arrest and Transfer of Former Pres. Duterte to ICC
IMEE MARCOS – The Senator leads a Senate comittee investigation on the controversial arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
After several years of investigating on the allegations surrounding the war on drugs of the Duterte administration, the Intenational Criminal Court or ICC has taken the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Duterte was arrested over a week ago upon his arrival in Manila from Hong Kong. The 79-year-old former Chief Executive was issued an arrest warrant over allegations of crimes against humanity. The arrest was acted on by the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Amid the criticisms from many Filipinos most especially the Duterte supporters, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that the arrest of Duterte followed a legal procedure. According to him, the government had to act on the arrest in line with its commitment with the Interpol.
Some senators have expressed disagreement and disappointment over Duterte’s arrest. Sen. Bato dela Rosa claimed that Marcos Jr. committed “betrayal to the max” for the allowing the arrest of Duterte.
Sen. Imee Marcos also admitted that she was shocked by the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It is no secret to the public that she and Duterte’s daughter, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, are close friends.
Sen. Imee Marcos refused to attend to the Bongbong Marcos-led Alyansa campaign rally in Tacloban after Duterte’s arrest. According to her, she cannot accept what happened to the former President and she wants to find a solution that will give clarification to the Filipino people.
Recently, the Senator raised some questions over the arrest of the former President. Based on a report on GMA News, the Senator who leads the Senate panel investigating the arrest of Duterte asked why the Philippine government surrendered a Filipino into the hands of the foreign entities.
“Ito ang napanood ng buong bansa, at ang tanging tanong, bakit natin isinuko ang isang kapwang Pilipino? Kung ang iyong kapatid ay inuusig, ipapasa mo ba sa kamay ng iba? Kung ang iyong ama o ‘di kaya ang iyong lolo pa, matanda na, may sakit, kinakakaldkad palabas ng inyong tahanan, manonood ka ba na parang wala lang?” she said.
Based on the report, Sen. Imee Marcos further claimed that the country surrendered former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte into the hands of the foreigners as if he has no country of his own. According to her, it also seemed like the Philippines cannot judge their own people.
“Ganito ang nangyari ngayon. Isinuko natin si Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa dayuhan na para bang wala siyang sariling bayan, na para bang hindi na nating kayang humusga sa sarili nating tahanan,” Sen. Imee Marcos said.
Marcos stressed that the turn of events is a matter with regards to the dignity of the Filipino people. According to her, if the ICC can do it to Duterte, it can allegedly happen again.
Aside from the arrest warrant against Duterte, there are also speculations that there is a looming ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa who admitted that hiding from the authorities is an option he may consider.