Panelo on int'l court's decision to convict Duterte: It's political litter

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Saturday dismissed as "political litter" the verdict of the International People's Tribunal (IPT) that President Rodrigo Duterte is guilty of crimes against humanity.

"It is apparent that the decision of the International People’s Tribunal finding the President liable for concocted violations of human rights resulted from a one-sided and shallow study of the country’s current situation. It is, therefore, to be treated as nothing but a piece of political litter," Panelo said.

The IPT handed down the non-legally binding ruling on Wednesday that says Duterte and his government have committed "various crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" against Filipinos "on a daily basis."

The court is convened by the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, IBON International and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.

Panelo said the IPT was used "as a tool by the skeptics of the President in a futile attempt to destroy his image and repute both in the international and local communities."

He added that the court "has never been pleased or satisfied with any administration."

"It has, for example, declared former President Gloria Arroyo guilty of human rights violations in 2005. In fact, this same kangaroo court in 2015 also rendered a verdict declaring previous President Benigno Aquino III, together with then US President Barack Obama, guilty of gross and systematic violations of human rights," Panelo said.

"Given these, it is difficult to dismiss the strong probability that this manipulative practice by personalities from the left is being undertaken as another leverage to succumb to their blue-sky demands," he added.

Panelo then advised Duterte's critics to turn to local courts instead.

"Detractors of the President should instead seek redress from our local courts should there be indeed abuses or violations resulting from the government’s campaign versus narcotics, crusade against criminality and corruption or operations for counterinsurgency, because these courts are more cognizant of the current state of affairs of our country while very able and willing to hear cases in relation thereto," he said.

Panelo said the government will continue "its serious efforts in executing the law equally but harshly against those who violate it, regardless of social status or political color."

"It shall as well continue its support in favor of its officers and personnel with a qualification that they should perform their duties in strict abidance of our laws," he added.

Panelo also said the use of IPT undermines the country's sovereignty.

"All told, an unsanctioned resort of certain individuals to foreign groups or pseudo tribunals for local grievances must not only be perceived as a useless exercise of political dissent but must also be denounced as a practice which undermines the sovereignty of our country and destabilizes our progress as a nation," he said. —KG, GMA News