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Signature drive for Duterte return to PH launched
Former Senator Gringo Honasan and other personalities on Wednesday launched a signature campaign to bring back former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines from The Hague.
During a press conference, Honasan, a senatorial candidate, said the signatures will be gathered physically and through social media.
“Maglalagay kami ng desk doon sa Liwasang Bonifacio, maglalagay kaming desk doon para sa kung sinong interesadong pumirma,” Honasan said, adding those abroad may join the signature campaign online.
(We will put up a desk at Liwasang Bonifacio for those interested in joining the signature campaign.)
Honasan earlier said through a people's initiative signature campaign, a petition will be filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring back Duterte.
In the press conference, Honasan also said there is no target number of signatures and it will be filed as soon as possible.
“Hindi ito anti-PBBM initiative. Hindi rin ito pro-FPRRD initiative. This is a pro-Filipino initiative Dumudulog kami sa ICC. Dimudulog kami sa kataas-taasang hukuman ng ating bansa, sa Korte Suprema na tulungan ang sambayanan na maunawan ang issue at maresolba ito para humupa na ang sitwasyon,” Honasan said.
(This is not an anti-PBBM initiative. This is also not a pro-FPRRD initiative. This is a pro-Filipino initiative. We are also urging the Supreme Court to help the people understand the issue and resolve and calm the tension.)
Earlier this month, the former president was arrested and brought to The Hague for his alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.
Palace responds
Malacañang said it is the right Honasan to file a petition to bring back Duterte, but advised him to discuss the initiative with the former president's legal team.
At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the ICC might ignore his petition.
''Well, karapatan naman po niya kung anong nais niyang gawin, para ipagtanggol ang dating Pangulong Duterte, pero mas mainam po siguro makipag-usap muna siya sa legal team ni dating Pangulong Duterte, baka hindi naman po siya pansinin sa ICC,'' Castro said.
(On the part of the administration, we will not do anything. We don't have any responsibility, we will not do anything as regards the legal procedures of the ICC.)
Honasan had described the elder Duterte’s arrest as a “slap in the face” and “betrayal of our nation's courts and laws."
Own initiative
Honasan also said there is no reason for him to rely on the legal counsel of Duterte in filing the petition before the ICC.
This came after Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Honasan and others behind the signature campaign must have a meeting with Duterte’s legal counsel before filing the petition before the ICC.
“Bakit ako aasa sa opinion nila eh intiative natin ito. Hindi importante sa amin kung ano yung legal opinion, political opinion. Kung ia-angkla naman namin itong intiative sa legal counsel ni FPRRD, edi ikakahon nanaman kami. Sasabihin this is a pro-Duterte effort,” Honasan said.
(Why should I rely on their opinion when this is our initiative. The legal and political opinions are not important to us. If we anchor our initiative to Duterte’s legal counsel, it will be tagged as a pro-Duterte effort.)
Meanwhile, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said the signature campaign is “independent” from the efforts of Duterte’s legal counsel.
“Kasi kung ganoon ang sinabi ng tagapagsalita ng pangulo parang inaanim niya hindi pa niya nabasa yung rules of procedure ng ICC kasi itong ginawa namin ngayon, kung babasahin mo yung procedure, independent ito sa gagawin nung mga abogado ng dating pangulo dahil ito mismo nakalagay sa kanila patakaran,” Marcoleta said.
“Pwede tayo magpaabot ng saloobin ang isang NGO patungkol kung sino yung gusto nating bigyan ng suporta,” he added.
(If that's what the president's palace officer said, it looks like she admitted she hasn't read the ICC's rules and procedures because what we're doing is independent of the efforts of Duterte's lawyers, because these are indicated in their rules. The non-government organizations can express their concerns to those they want to give support to.)
Marcoleta also questioned Malacañang on what he called “unclear” arrest of Duterte.
He said Duterte’s warrant of arrest was read through the cellphone and not in a physical copy.
“Dapat lumitaw sana bago mo inaresto si Pangulo Duterte. Malinaw sana na yung physical copy ng warrant of arrest piniresenta. Hindi malinaw yung ganun,” Marcoleta said.
Marcoleta also questioned if a representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) was present during the arrest.
He said Duterte’s Miranda rights were read by Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and not by a representative of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
He added that this was the case despite the Philippine National Police being supposed to only assist the Interpol with its arrest.
GMA News Online has sought comments from Castro regarding these matters.
Honasan also disagreed with former presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s call for a people power or a peaceful gathering following Duterte’s arrest.
“I would advise against considering that option,” Honasan said
“Galing na tayo dyan. Every time we want to take shortcuts, does it strengthen our democracy? Does it guarantee life, liberty and property? Does it allow us, especially the government to address the real problem of the country? Kung ang sagot yes, sa kalsada tayo. Kung hindi, let’s be more patient with each other. Let’s reach out,” he added.
(We have been there before. Every time we want to take shortcuts, does it strengthen our democracy? Does it guarantee life, liberty and property? Does it allow us, especially the government, to address the real problem of the country? If the answer is yes, then let’s go with that. If not, let us be more patient with each other.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
