Walden Bello vows to prosecute Duterte, allies in ICC if elected

Vice presidential candidate Profesor Walden Bello on Tuesday said that he and running mate Leody de Guzman will coordinate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies for their alleged crimes against humanity.

During the Commission on Elections’ forum for the 2022 elections, Bello emphasized that one of the priorities of their administration would be human rights, thus they will see to it that the alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration will be looked into.

“‘Yung issues of extrajudicial killings, these will all be brought up for reparations and rectification. We will cooperate with the International Criminal Court in prosecuting Duterte and his minions,” he said.

De Guzman also previously said he will welcome the ICC’s probe of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs if he gets elected as president, and will hold Duterte accountable if he has wrongdoings.

The ICC probe, which was deferred in November 2021 based on the request of the Philippine government, stemmed from the complaint of the families of those killed in the drug war and human rights advocates.

Based on government records, over 6,000 drug suspects have been killed during the police's anti-drug operations since Duterte assumed office on June 30, 2016.

However, several human rights groups refuted the data and claimed the actual deaths stand around 12,000 to 30,000.

Further, Bello also vowed that one of the first things that he and de Guzman will do if they win the 2022 elections is to release detained Senator Leila De Lima from her “unjust” imprisonment, considering the recent retractions of confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos of their statements against her.

“Nakita na natin ‘yung naging testimony ni Ragos at Espinosa na frame up talaga ito (we have seen from their testimonies that this is really framed up)," he said.

"This person has been made to suffer for five years but it was directed by the President of the Philippines out of his vindictiveness. That is, out of the question, very bad governance,” he added.

De Lima, a former Justice secretary and a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 2017 due to drug charges.

One of the cases has been dismissed by a Muntinlupa City court. She has also repeatedly denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.—LDF, GMA News