Press Release - Dela Rosa: Privilege speech Protect the people

SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I rise today on a matter of collective and personal privilege.

"Government's first duty is to protect the people..."

This statement from the former President of the United States of America, my namesake, Ronald Reagan, is an embodiment of the latin phrase "parens patriae" which literally means "parent of the country." According to the recognized doctrine of parens patriae, a state has a paternal and protective role over its citizens or others subject to its jurisdiction.

As parens patriae, the Philippine government has the duty to ensure that all of its citizens are safe and protected, especially those who cannot protect themselves.

Ang ating pamahalaan ang itinuturing na magulang ng sambayanan at tungkulin nito na pangalagaan ang kapakanan at interes ng mga ito. Kabilang na rito ang pagtitiyak na ang ating bansa, ang ating tahanan, ay ligtas mula sa kung sino mang magtatangka na manghimasok.

We are a sovereign nation, this we know to be true. But for this sovereignty to be real and felt, we need more than just rhetoric. Ang kailangan natin ay parehong pisikal na proteksyon at polisiya. Iyan ang inaasahan natin mula sa ating pamahalaan.

Ngunit hindi lamang sa literal na trespassing dapat maging mapagbantay. May tinatawag din na "sphere of influence." Iyong ibang mga lahi na may pagtingin na sila ang higit na nakaaalam kung ano ang makabubuti para sa atin; na sila ang may kapangyarihan na magdesisyon; na sila ang Diyos.

Noting that membership in the International Criminal Court is detrimental to the national sovereignty and safety of the Filipino, the Philippines submitted its Notice of Withdrawal from the International Criminal Court to the United Nations on March 16, 2018. The day after, the United Nations received the formal notification from the Philippine government, thereby making the withdrawal effective.

Regardless of the withdrawal from the ICC, the Supreme Court in the case of Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan et. al, vs. Allan Peter Cayetano, et. al, declared that: "In any case, despite the withdrawal, this Court finds no lesser protection of human rights within our system of