GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
PH enforced law in surrendering Duterte to ICC —Palace
Malacañang on Thursday maintained the legality of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte following the remarks of Senator Imee Marcos that the Philippine government had surrendered the former Philippine leader to the International Criminal Court.
''Okay, sabi niya bakit natin isinuko ang dating pangulo sa isang dayuhan. Ito naman po ay nasa batas RA 9851, hindi po natin nilalabag ang anumang batas,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a press briefing.
(She's asking why we surrendered the former president to foreigners. This was in compliance with RA 9851, we did not violate any law.)
''Ang ginamit po na batas ang RA 9851 nandoon po na sinasabi na maaari nating isuko o ulitin po natin ito ha, doon sa Section 17 sinasabi po na to extradite or to surrender to the international court, if any, or to the state in relation with applicable extradition treaties something like that,'' she added.
(It was stated there that we can surrender, or under Section 17, we can extradite or surrender to the international court, if any, or to the state in relation with applicable extradition treaties something like that.)
Section 17 of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law states that: ''In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties."
Marcos pointed out that Duterte was taken by “outsiders” who claimed the right to judge him, questioning when the Philippines became a “province” of The Hague.
In reaction to the senator's remarks, Castro stressed that the Philippines is never a province of any other nation or entity since it is an ''independent country.'' She insisted that the government was just implementing the law in relation to Duterte's arrest over crimes against humanity charges.
''Hindi po natin ninais na maging probinsiya ng kahit anuman dahil po tayo ay isang independent country. Hindi po natin ninais na maging probinsiya din po ng Fujian, China. Never nating inisip iyan na maging probinsiya tayo ng anumang bansa,'' Castro said.
(We never want to become a province of any foreign entity since we are an independent country. We never want to become a province of Fujian, China. We never thought of becoming a province of another country.)
''Nagpapatupad po lamang tayo ng batas at kung iyon po ang sinasabi po ni Senator Imee siguro iyon lamang po ang paniniwala natin dahil kahit po sa panahon ngayon ni Pangulong Marcos ay hindi natin sinusuko ang anumang karapatan natin sa West Philippine Sea. Siguro doon lamang po makikita natin na hindi po natin ibibigay ang anumang karapatan natin kahit kaninuman,'' she added.
(We are just implementing the law and if that's what Senator Imee is saying, that's also our belief. And even during this time of President Marcos, we don't surrender our rights in the West Philippine Sea. With that, we can see that we don't surrender our rights to anyone.)
Asked about the President's reaction to the Senate probe, which his sister was leading, Castro said the administration would let the investigation take its course.
''Napag-usapan po iyan at kung anuman daw po ang gagawing paghi-hearing sa Senado hindi naman po natin ito tututulan dahil para ipakita sa taumbayan na tayo po ay sumusunod lamang sa batas,'' she said.
(We've talked about that and whatever will be done during the hearing, we will not prevent it to show to the public that we are just following the law.)
Duterte is under custody of the ICC over crimes against humanity charges. —AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
