Candidates debate ICC question, drug war figures

Vice presidential candidates expressed different views Saturday on the possible return of the Philippines to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the country’s war on drug.

During the vice presidential debate by CNN Philippines, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he favors the Philippines rejoining the ICC.

“Yes, obviously,” he said citing a resolution, which the members of the Senate filed before the Supreme Court, asserting their role in treaty withdrawals.

Section 21, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution says treaties or international agreements are valid and effective when concurred in by at least 2/3 of the Senate. Government lawyers argued the Constitution is silent on the need for the Senate's approval in withdrawing from treaties.

“Obviously, ang Senado ay pabor doon o majority in the Senate ay pabor na pag-usapan ‘yan at ibalik tayo. Kung gustong mag-imbestiga ng ICC dito sa atin, hayaan mong mag-imbestiga, wala tayong itinatago, wala tayong dapat katakutan,” he added.

(Obviously, the majority of the members of the Senate are in favor to return to the ICC. If they want to investigate here, let us allow them to investigate. We are not hiding anything. We don't fear anyone.)

Vice presidential candidate Carlos Serapio also favored rejoining the ICC.

"As a respectable member of the international community, I join the Senate President (Vicente Sotto III) in his stand that we should rejoin the ICC. For that matter we should also be part of all other international organizations which help promote international harmony, cooperation and amity provided for in our Constitution," Serapio said.

Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential bet Willie Ong also said the Philippines should go back to being a member of the ICC.

“Syempre, yes tayo, sasali ulit tayo sa ICC (Yes, we should rejoin ICC),” Ong said.

However, Ong stressed that the country’s problem lies in its implementation of the war on drugs.

“I think kahit ito sa mga international organizations, ‘yung criminal justice approach, minsan hindi ‘yun ang pinakamaganda pag-solve ng war on drugs. Kailangan natin ng public health approach tulad ng sinabi ni Senator Tito Sotto,” he said, noting that only 2% are drug pushers while 98% are users.

(The criminal justice approach may not be the most effective means to solve the drug problem. We need to apply a public health approach like what Senator Tito Sotto said.)

Ong also said the country must procure and provide free drugs that cure addiction and increase the number of psychologists and psychiatrists.

“Kailangan po focus natin science-based, kailangan bawasan ang stigma sa gumagamit, paparamihan natin ‘yung libreng gamot. May gamot na kasi pang solve o pang cure sa nagiging drug addict,” he said.

(We should take the science-based approach, we should minimize the stigma on users and provide free medication. There are now medicines that can cure addiction.)

“Hindi pwede ikukulong tapos pagbalik magiging adik sila ulit (We should not just put them in jail because they will return to being an addict),” he added.

He said in Manila, under Mayor and presidential candidate Francisco "Isko" Moreno, 98% of drug users are caught and not killed.

Vice presidential candidate Professor Walden Bello vowed to fully cooperate with the ICC regarding the investigation on the Duterte administration's war on illegal drugs should he win the May 9 polls.

Bello said that he and running mate Leody de Guzman will support such an investigation on the “extrajudicial killings” linked to the drug war, stressing that President Rodrigo Duterte should be jailed for it.

“Full cooperation and we will make sure that there is coordination between our justice system and the ICC because 27,000 extrajudicial executions directed from Malacanang. President Duterte cannot escape this responsibility and he should be prosecuted and I believe he will be prosecuted and brought to a cell in The Hague,” he said.

Bello then accused Sotto of rewriting history, saying the latter was an ally of Duterte until recently.

“Noong kasagsagan ng (at the height of the) war on drugs, did he say any critical about the President? Did he protect Senator Leila de Lima who was a member of the Senate? I mean, he was just supportive during that time when the President was destroying the integrity of the Senate,” he said.

“Let’s be frank with our kababayans naman. ‘Wag tayong magsisinunggaling dito. Mahirap ‘yan. Di ba anti-terror law itinulak ninyo? Oh boy, come on,” he added.

(Let’s be frank with our countrymen and not lie. That’s difficult. You pushed for the anti-terror law, right?”)

In response, Sotto said Bello stated inaccurate facts and figures, adding that being Duterte’s friend does not mean he is always a President’s ally.

Sotto also refuted the claim that he did not come to De Lima’s defense, telling Bello to ask the detained lawmaker herself because he did not allow her to be arrested in the Senate.

“I have preserved the independence of the Senate always and you can ask the members of the minority and the majority,” he asserted.

He then reiterated his skepticism on the accuracy of the numbers of drug war deaths which are currently being scrutinized by the ICC.

According to Sotto, there were around 258,000 drug operations from 2016 up to October 2021, while there are around 378,000 arrests, and only around 6,021 drug-related deaths.

“Kaya ako open ako na ang ICC mag-imbestiga dito…kung may [extra-judicial killings] at sinasabi nila, ibinibintang nila kay President Duterte, dapat 378,000 ang patay,” he claimed.

(That is why I am open for the ICC investigation here in the country. If there are EJKs as what they are accusing President Duterte, there should be 378,000 deaths today.)

“Hindi totoo ‘yun…kung anu-ano pinapadala nilang figures sa ICC, hindi totoo ‘yun. You have to let the records speak for itself,” he added.

(Those figures they sent to the ICC are not true. You have to let the records speak for itself.)

Vice presidential candidate and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said he also favors rejoining the ICC.

Pangilinan vowed that if wins the vice presidential race, he will cooperate with the ICC.

"We will support the rejoining and of course we will cooperate," the senator said.

"We were one of those petitioners who questioned the withdrawal by the President of our membership in the ICC. Unfortunately the Supreme Court did not share our view that the withdrawal should have been concurred by the Senate," he added.

Vice presidential candidate Manny Lopez said he supports the war on drugs as he sees the implications of the country being a narco state. However, he believes human rights should also be protected.

"To bring in foreign interference based on their values, based on their perceptions, to actually intervene in Philippine affairs is not a good proposition, not a good idea for the sake of country and our people."

"While there is a clamor to rejoin the ICC, it has to be timely," Lopez said, adding the government has to look at it in a balanced manner.

Meanwhile, Bello again questioned Sotto’s alleged ties with Duterte.

“All the key legislative initiatives na itinulak ni [pushed by] President Duterte, who was the biggest backer? It was Mr. Sotto—the Anti-Terror Act, the Public Services Act, the Retail Liberalization Act, the Foreign Investment Amendment Act, the Rice Tariffication act—you name it. He never dissented from any legislative push by the President. Kaya ho, hindi independent ang kandidatong ito (this candidate is not independent),” Bello said.

Sotto responded by saying all the bills and laws mentioned by Bello are for the benefit of the Filipino people.

“Anti-terror law, bakit gusto mo ba kampi tayo sa terrorist? Hahayaan natin sila ganun na lang. Foreign investments bakit ayaw natin makarecover ang ekonomiya? Ano nakasadlak na lang tayo, bagsak na lang? We should allow that. And I don't think it’s wrong if I am a friend of the President, as long as the Senate is independent. Ang lahat na ipinasa namin sa Senado kahit na pandemic I was never absent, never late. Kahit na to the detriment of my health wala akong pakialam because I was doing my job. That's it,” he said.—Giselle Ombay, Richa Noriega, Jamil Santos, Joahna Lei Casilao, Anna Felicia Bajo, Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA News