Sen. Risa Hontiveros Votes “No” on Resolution Urging Senate To Call for Duterte’s House Arrest
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Senator explained her side for voting “no” on the Senate resolution over the house arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court for more than six (6) months. It was in March when the former President was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
In the same day of his arrest, former Pres. Duterte was flown to Dubai en route for The Hague, Netherlands where he is detained now under the custody of the ICC. Despite the postponement of the confirmation of charges hearing, the ICC revealed that three (3) counts of murder charges were filed against former Pres. Duterte by the prosecution team.
The confirmation of charges hearing that was initially set on September 23 was postponed after Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, claimed that the former President is allegedly “not fit to stand trial”. According to the British-Israeli lawyer, his client is supposedly suffering from a ‘cognitive impairment’.
Kaufman previously expressed his hope that the Marcos Jr. administration will allow Duterte’s return to the Philippines if the ICC grants him an interim release. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also admitted that she prefers a house arrest in Davao City for her father. According to her, it will be okay with them even if he will be under a house arrest in an underground bunker.
Recently, several allies of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the Senate sponsored a resolution that urges the chamber to call for the house arrest of the former President. Fifteen (15) senators voted “yes” in the said reso while three (3) senators voted “no”.
YES
- Migz Zubiri
- Rodante Marcoleta
- Imee Marcos
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Robin Padilla
- Bato Dela Rosa
- Joel Villanueva
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
NO
- Risa Hontiveros
- Bam Aquino
- Kiko Pangilinan
Senate Pres. Tito Sotto and Sen. Raffy Tulfo abstained from voting on the Senate resolution urging the chamber for a house arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Senators Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, and Chiz Escudero were absent.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros explained her decision to vote “no” on the Senate resolution over the call for house arrest for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on a post of News5 on social media, the Senator claimed that the government may allegedly look like it is favoring a powerful individual if it will advocate for the interim release or house arrest of the former Chief Executive.
“Ang panawagan para ang gobyerno ay mag-advocate para sa interim release o house arrest… maaaring naka-couch sa humanitarian terms. Pero nagmumukha ring isa pang halimbawa ng ating gobyerno na nagbibigay ng special treatment sa isang makapangyarihang indibidwal,” she said.
Based on the post, Sen. Risa Hontiveros admitted that she cannot vote for the Senate resolution over former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s house arrest “in good faith”. The Senator also claimed that there is allegedly no indication of the ICC neglecting ng health and welfare of the people under their custody.
“Ipagpaumanhin ninyo, Mr. President, at mga kasama, hindi ko po in good conscience masuportahan ang resolusyong ito.”
“Wala pong indikasyon na ang [International Criminal Court] ay nagpabaya sa pagbantay sa kalusugan at kagalingan ng mga taong nasa kustodiya nila,” she said.
Sen. Bong Go is one of the senators who voted in the affirmative on the Senate resolution citing that the former President is more than a father to him.