By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Expressing disappointment with former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s behavior during a recent Senate hearing, a lawmaker stated that the ex-Chief Executive is neither a hero nor a god and lacks the power to exonerate rogue policemen and hired guns involved in extrajudicial killings under his violent war on drugs.
“He is not a hero. He is not God. He is not the law. He is not above the law. He is a plague,” said Rep. Rolando Valeriano, a member of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
Valeriano emphasized that under the country’s laws, those who commit crimes—whether as principals, conspirators, accomplices, or accessories—are held accountable.
“It is not up to former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte to determine who is criminally, civilly, or administratively liable for crimes committed during his brutal war on drugs. His acceptance of legal responsibility for this campaign does not absolve others of their liability,” he said.
He further remarked that Duterte’s declaration that he alone should be held responsible was merely “grandstanding, a weak attempt to project strength to those rogue cops who committed crimes in his name, upon his orders, and with promises of rewards for suspects killed and arrested.”
Valeriano also highlighted that the House Quad Committee looks forward to Duterte’s commitment to attend its inquiry.
“The House has its own set of questions to uncover the truth. Our findings and recommendations will be based on evidence, which we will forward to the DOJ,” he stated.
He clarified that it is the DOJ or the Office of the Ombudsman that initially determines liability through probable cause and that the courts ultimately decide guilt.
Valeriano added that Duterte, as a former president, does not enjoy immunity from prosecution.
“There are no pending criminal cases against the former president, but he does face charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Those ICC charges will be his primary concern. It may take time for the DOJ or the Ombudsman to file charges and decide on any potential transfer to the Interpol, which enforces ICC arrest orders,” he noted.
There are also speculations that the ICC is close to issuing arrest warrants for Duterte and other key figures of his bloody war on drugs, including his former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
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