By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Bong Go stated that the Senate hearing conducted by Senator Imee Marcos on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte is already too late.

However, Go expressed his respect for Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

“I respect the initiative of Senator Imee Marcos to hold a Senate inquiry. It’s her right as the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations. As for me, as a member, I just want to express my feelings that it feels too late. This is what we call ‘too late the hero,’” Go said.

Go previously mentioned that he was still considering whether to attend the hearing, as the investigation would not have an impact on the former president’s current situation.

The senator emphasized that the hearing would not bring Duterte back to the country and that the only possible discussion would be regarding the laws violated in his arrest.

“Can we bring Tatay Digong back here? If we could, even if we hold hearings every day, it wouldn’t make a difference,” the senator said.

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MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirmed on Tuesday that the Philippine government adhered to all legal processes in the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“We followed all the necessary legal procedures. I’m confident that further examination will show it was done properly and correctly,” Marcos stated during a press conference. He emphasized there was a “very good basis” to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Duterte.

Marcos rejected claims of unlawful action, explaining that the arrest was carried out in compliance with a request from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to enforce the ICC warrant. He stressed the government was fulfilling its obligations to Interpol, not cooperating with the ICC directly.

“This isn’t about the ICC. It’s about Interpol’s request, and we honor our commitments to them,” Marcos said.

He also refuted allegations of political persecution, highlighting that the case dates back to 2017 when the Philippines was still a member of the ICC under Duterte’s administration. “I don’t see how this can be political persecution, as this was initiated before I even took office,” he added.

Marcos assured that the official arrest warrant against Duterte, signed by ICC judges on March 7, would be made public for transparency.

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday morning upon returning from Hong Kong at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was subsequently transferred to Villamor Air Base. The official ICC arrest order was received by Interpol Manila earlier that day.

The ICC is investigating Duterte for crimes against humanity related to deaths linked to his war on drugs during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and as president. Although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in March 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.

Duterte was flown to The Hague, Netherlands, on a chartered plane later that evening to face charges at the ICC headquarters.

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The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and its provincial chapters, with support from Gabriela, organized a protest march from Morayta to Mendiola in Manila on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Their primary demand was for the Marcos Administration to address the rising prices of rice.

The group leaders emphasized that rice liberalization and government importation had been the primary contributors to the agricultural crisis in the country.

Photographs captured the demonstrators as they made their way from Morayta to Mendiola in Manila, carrying large banners to mark this year’s International Rural Women’s Day.

(Report and photos by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

Image Courtesy of Benjie Cuaresma

PARANAQUE City — Activists belonging to the transport organization PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) staged a protest rally in Baclaran.

Their primary grievances centered around the Oil Deregulation Law and the persistent rise in oil prices.

The protesters also demanded the removal of excise taxes on oil and petroleum products, a reduction in oil prices, and the nationalization of the oil industry within the Philippines.

George San Mateo, the President of PISTON, emphasized the need for an investigation into alleged overpricing and the activities of large foreign oil corporations operating in the country.

Featured images depict members of the activist groups displaying sizable banners condemning the oil deregulation law, advocating for lower oil prices in the nation, and opposing the phasing out of jeepneys.

(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)