ITALKS: ICC ENTRY TO PH IS NEXT?

By Ismael Amigo, Sr.

Here’s our bet: Methinks there is a big possibility that PBBM’s administration would allow the entry of the ICC to investigate the so-called ‘bloody drug war” of the previous administration of FPRRD.

This is the “NEXT PICTURE” that many movie houses use to announce at the entrance while you are enjoying the week’s blockbuster, which is nothing less than the temporary freedom of incarcerated former lady senator Leila de Lima after almost seven (7) long years.

Incumbent Senator and former PNP chief Bato dela Rosa was correct down to the letter when he said that “ganun talaga wala na kasi si PRRD kaya humina ang kaso.”

Dela Rosa was the head of the country’s police force when then-president Rpdrigo Roa Duterte slammed D5 into the slammer way back in 2017 based on what she calls “trumped-up drug charges.”

A lawyer and former CHR chairperson, De Lima was slapped with three drug charges filed against her in 2017 based on allegations that she was involved in the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary.

She was acquitted in her first charge in February 2021 and her second charge in May this year.

Department of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla himself, in an interview with the Philippine Star, offered that “chances are she (De Lima) will be acquitted.”

Why?

Take it away chief:

“Chances are she will be acquitted. There’s a huge chance. Bail is not granted just like that. We trust the judge on this matter,” Remulla said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines.

Remulla also stressed that De Lima’s last drug case, in which she allegedly conspired to commit illegal drug trading using New Bilibid Prison inmates, is non-bailable in fact.

But “when it becomes bailable, it (only) shows the kind of evidence that the prosecution was able to establish in the eyes of the judge. This case cannot be granted bail if the evidence is strong. Vice versa, if the evidence is weak, bail can be granted,” Boying explains.

Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 allowed De Lima to post a P300,000 bail, pointing to the prosecution’s lack of substantial evidence to sufficiently establish her guilt.

As this is happening under the present admin of PBBM, it is safe to say that there is something bigger coming to happen.

And with Remulla himself announcing the possible acquittal of the feisty former lady lawmaker, methinks this “softening” could lead to “eventual hardening” of the DOJ’s resolve to finally allow the ICC to step into the country and investigate the thousands of drug-related, “nanlaban” killings charges vs FPRRD. 

And its heavy steps, while in the country doing its investigation, could smash and bury for good the political dreams of the DUTERTES including that of VP Sara’s as she is accordingly implicated in the ICC case.

With it, we need not mention here who will benefit the most from that scenario.

But your guess is as good as mine.

This could be no more than the top man of the country’s House of Reps who is maintaining a moist eye for president in the 2028 national elections, although methinks he will first throw in his hat in the 2025 midterm elections for senator and once elected, level-up via that mid-term perks for senators seeking a higher office.

They simply slide back as a senator if he or she won’t win a higher office as president or vice president.          

Moving on, that ICC entry would also hammer in the last nail to UniTeam’s coffin, and I’m very sure FPRRD would once again tell daughter VP Sara the sad refrain of: “I told you so.”

After all, we never heard of FPRRD supporting PBBM politically or otherwise before and after the 2022 national elections.

Instead, FPRRD openly accused PBBM as a “weakling,” not qualified to lead the country. Simple words but daggerlike. And what we know is the Marcoses never instantly react. They prefer to operate quietly, tersely, slowly but surely.

Hint: PBBM never lifted a finger to protect VPSDu while the latter was on the griller re her fave but now infamous “confidential funds.”   

Abangan natin mga tao!

(Email ismaelamigo@yahoo.com)