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VP Sara ready to face ICC charges only before a Filipino court
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to confront any allegations against her but insisted that she would only do so in front of a Filipino judge and within the jurisdiction of a Filipino court. In a statement on her Facebook page, she emphasized her refusal to participate in any process that could tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Philippine judiciary system. Duterte adamantly opposed the involvement of foreign entities in the country's legal affairs, citing it as a dishonor to the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes for the nation's freedom. Duterte, who previously served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, vehemently denied any involvement in the Davao Death Squad during her terms in office. She expressed dismay over the sudden appearance of a witness against her in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after assuming the vice presidency. Duterte dismissed the accusations and questioned the motives behind the allegations, asserting her capability to accomplish tasks without resorting to unlawful means. In a related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his refusal to acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines, considering it a threat to the country's sovereignty. He issued a directive for all government agencies to refrain from cooperating with the ICC, emphasizing the nation's non-recognition of the court's authority. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ICC investigators had gathered substantial evidence against former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his administration's war on drugs. He anticipated an imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the ICC's decision to initiate a preliminary investigation into the war on drugs, labeling it an insult to the Philippines and challenging the court's jurisdiction within the country. During his presidency, he initiated the withdrawal of the Philippines' membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC appeals chamber recently granted a request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to the Philippines' controversial drug campaign, spanning from November 2011 to March 2019. The developments surrounding the ICC's probe into the Philippines' internal affairs have sparked a contentious debate, with key political figures and rights groups expressing divergent views on the matter. The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and the ICC underscore the complex intersection of international law, national sovereignty, and human rights issues......»»
EDITORIAL - Cha-cha fast break
If gathering the required number of signatures nationwide for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution proves so easy, with the threshold allegedly already met even before the month is over and a nationwide plebiscite planned for July, the nation can be sure it will not be the last time that this mode of amending the basic law of the land will be employed......»»
EDITORIAL - Striking a balance
With the launch of e-lotto, even the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which operates the national lottery, surely understands the need to ensure the integrity of the games......»»
EDITORIAL - Vaping minors
Law enforcement agencies are expressing alarm over the increasing use of vapes by minors, and the rise in the illegal importation of prohibited substances used in e-cigarettes. The problem should not come as a surprise, however, since the government practically asked for it......»»
EDITORIAL — ‘Very rotten’
A process has long been in place for the approval of the national budget. Malacañang, through the Department of Budget and Management, submits its proposed national expenditure program to Congress, and both chambers deliberate on the NEP to come up with their respective versions of the budget bill......»»
EDITORIAL — Miracle
There was good news on the eve of the Lunar New Year: a baby boy and an older girl were pulled out of the rubble buried under mud yesterday in the landslide-hit Barangay Masara in the town of Maco, Davao de Oro......»»
EDITORIAL - Preserving Mali the elephant
The city council of Manila has approved a resolution accepting the offer of a private company to preserve for free the remains of Mali the elephant......»»
EDITORIAL - Minimum inconvenience
With just over a week to go before the deadline, 313 routes in the National Capital Region still lack a consolidated transport service entity, according to data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. After a one-month grace period, the LTFRB says it will no longer give another extension of the deadline, as it cited a 76.6 percent consolidation rate nationwide......»»
EDITORIAL - Foreign trade barriers
Instead of declaring war on pollster Pulse Asia over its latest survey showing 88 percent of Filipinos opposing Charter change, congressmen can read the report of the office of the US Trade Representative, which details foreign trade barriers in 59 markets including the Philippines......»»
EDITORIAL — Irresponsible driving
As travel increases this Holy Week, motorists are expressing concern about a road accident this month that penalized an innocent driver. Video footage showed a Toyota Innova traversing the northbound lane of the Skyway Stage 3 on March 10 when a motorcycle moving beyond the speed limit counter-flowed, colliding head-on with the Innova......»»
EDITORIAL Stuck in the gray list
While moving heaven and Earth to amend the Constitution ostensibly to attract more foreign investments, the government is taking its sweet time getting out of the so-called gray list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring for money laundering and counterterrorist financing......»»
EDITORIAL - Remembering, 38 years later
The nation marks today the 38th anniversary of the people power revolt with new personalities organizing or participating in mass gatherings against the administration......»»
EDITORIAL — Deepfakes in the 2025 polls
In the 2022 general elections, advocates for clean and honest polls lamented the widespread use of digital technology for spreading misinformation and disinformation to influence the vote......»»
EDITORIAL — 115th in transparency
With the recent controversy involving secret funds for both national and local government agencies, people may question the improvement, slight as it is at just one notch, in the Philippines’ ranking in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index......»»
EDITORIAL - Calls for justice
Whether or not it’s part of the ongoing political warfare, the re-emergence of former Davao City policeman Arturo Lascañas revives the issue of the state’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs, with justice still elusive for victims of extrajudicial killings......»»
EDITORIAL - Progressive transformation
The month opened with a new man at the helm of the Philippine National Police......»»
EDITORIAL - Preserving a geological treasure
In September last year, a provincial board member of Bohol had asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to stop the construction of private structures within the Chocolate Hills area......»»
EDITORIAL - NFA housecleaning
With rice retailed at P20 per kilo still stuck in the realm of aspiration, a scandal has erupted in the National Food Authority, which is tasked to maintain a rice buffer stock for the country by buying from local farmers......»»
EDITORIAL — Missing the commuter train
After the Holy Week, the daily commute for around 30,000 people will become more difficult......»»
EDITORIAL Shooting itself in the foot
As the lead organization in maintaining peace and order, the Philippine National Police must know what it is doing in authorizing civilians to own semi-automatic rifles and 7.62mm-caliber firearms......»»