House weaponizing ICC to silence the Dutertes? Dela Rosa says some Filipinos are asking

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) — Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said some Filipinos are questioning the timing of the House resolutions urging the Marcos government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe into the drug war of the Duterte administration.

“Bakit ngayon lang ‘yan nagsipaglabasan itong mga resolution kung kailan nagkakaroon ng gusot between the Speaker of the House (Martin Romualdez) and Vice President (Sara) Duterte and former President (Rodrigo) Duterte?” he told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday.

RELATED: Romualdez: Uniteam still intact despite House row with Dutertes

“Parang bang the people are thinking that, ‘Are they going to weaponize the ICC in order to silence the Dutertes?’ ‘Yon ang nagiging tanong,” he added.

[Translation: Why did they file the resolutions only now when there’s a rift between the Speaker of the House and Vice President Duterte and former President Duterte? It seems the people are thinking that, “Are they going to weaponize the ICC in order to silence the Dutertes?” That’s the question.]

Dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police during the Duterte administration. He is the chief implementor of the drug war.

Currently, there are three House resolutions on the ICC’s probe. These were filed by Representatives France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Daniel Manuel of the Makabayan bloc; Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and 1-Rider Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez; and Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros told CNN Philippines she is “seriously considering” filing a counterpart resolution in the Senate.

“Maybe they thought tatahimik si former president Duterte kapag tinatakot nila about ICC…‘yon ang komento na naririnig ko from people discussing…this issue,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: Maybe they thought former president Duterte will keep quiet if they scare him about the ICC. That’s the comment I’m hearing from people discussing this issue.]

But the senator admitted that he was surprised with the filing of the resolutions, except for the one filed by Makabayan lawmakers.

The ICC will continue to investigate the drug war after the Appeals