Sen. Robin Padilla Speaks of ICC Case of Former Pres. Duterte in The Hague
ROBIN PADILLA – The actor-turned-Senator clarified that he is not saying that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte should not be held accountable if he indeed committed a crime.
Former Pres. Duterte is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court since March. His camp applied for his interim release in June and renewed the application in August after his lawyers previously asked the court to hold off in making a decision as they await some documents and information.
However, recently, the ICC released its decision rejecting the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The foreign court stressed that the continuous detention of the former Chief Executive is necessary to ensure his attendance to the court proceedings.
Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutors. The ICC prosecution panel also opposed the interim release of the former President saying that his continued detention is needed.
Prior to the ruling of the ICC on the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte being released, the Senate voted to approve the resolution to call for the house arrest of the former Chief Executive. Several senators including known Duterte-ally Sen. Robin Padilla voted in favor of the said Senate resolution.
Recently, following the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte being denied by the ICC, Sen. Robin Padilla issued a clarification regarding his stand on the detention of the former President in The Hague, Netherlands. Through a post, the Senator claimed that none of them who love and are thankful of the service of Duterte said he should not be held accountable if he indeed committed a crime in the drug war.
According to Padilla, it was Duterte himself who said that he is willing to face the consequence if he committed a mistake here in the Philippines. Based on the post, the Senator then raised questions regarding the ICC detention of the former President in The Hague.
Aside from Sen. Robin Padilla, another lawmaker in the Senate who supported the call for the house arrest of the former President is Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go who was his long-time aide before he became a senator. Sen. Bong Go claimed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is more than a father to him.