By Junex Doronio
WITH THE CHILLING RECORD OF 30,000 deaths in the “bloody drug war” hatched by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Duterte as claimed by human rights groups, the Makabayan bloc filed a House resolution urging the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation on the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the previous regime.
“With former President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised admission of ordering extrajudicial killings and financing them with his confidential and intelligence funds, it is imperative that we allow the ICC to investigate his crimes,” House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list pointed out.
Joining her in the resolution were House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list, and Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel who said they made the call under House Resolution 1393 in light of Duterte’s recent SMNI interview.
“We urge the House leadership to support and co-author this resolution to show that we do not tolerate extrajudicial killings and that we are working for justice to be served to his victims, and their families,” Castro added.
Recently, lawmakers crossed party lines to rally behind Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and castigated FPRRD for making threats or insinuating harm against members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress.
But will PBBM dare to cross swords with FPRRD who once referred to him as “spoiled” and a “weak leader” during the 2022 presidential campaign?
Only time can tell.
Makabayan lawmakers maintained that the Marcos Jr. administration should not turn a blind eye to the supposed impunity. (ai/mnm)
