Marcos should allow ICC probe on killings —Hontiveros

President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the cases of alleged extra-judicial killings under the Duterte administration, saying justice should be given to the victims.

“Well, I hope that they will, I think that they should. In any case, its our state obligation as a member of the ICC during that time that the case got on the road and the process has started,” Hontiveros said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

“I think its part of clearing our plate on some of our unfinished business about human rights from the decades past and from these years past to give justice to the EJK victims, and their widowed and orphaned families,” she added.

As a lone opposition member who won in the 2022 polls, Hontiveros said among the unfinished businesses since the People Power Revolution that the minority should address are the recognition and compensation of human rights victims of the past decades and the EJK victims in the past years, the unfinished business of drawing accountability of plunder in the past decades, disrespect against women in the past years, treason with China in the past years, the very urgent concerns of the pandemic, the concern of emerging from this recession, unemployment and underemployment and all the “accumulated democracy challenges,” among others.

Hontiveros believes that even if she and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III are the only sure members of the 19th Congress’ minority bloc, they will not be a “weak” force in the upper chamber, citing their experience in the democratization struggle.

“Moving forward, my main interest is that in the minority of the 19th Congress, we will be a genuine and effective minority and to be able to also pass laws needed by our people. That the minority will help not just the opposition inside the Senate but also the broad citizenry to arrive at broader unities on issues of common concern,” she said.

“Those of us in the minority have exhibited the willingness and the capability to work with any other colleague in the majority especially on common advocacies— bills, resolutions leading investigation and budget interventions needing a bipartisan consensus within the Senate and within the Senate the minority that we are building right now, we will continue to have attitude and behavior with the colleagues in the majority and with the administration as well,” she noted.

Further, the re-elected lawmaker said they will be prepared to raise critical points and constructive criticisms, present alternatives, but also support the “good programs” that the Marcos administration will launch.

After Vice President Leni Robredo passed on the opposition’s torch to her, Hontiveros admitted that it would be difficult to lead their group.

“It would be very challenging not just for any leader but the whole opposition,” she said.

In an interview with reporters, Pimentel said the two of them are ready to be the minority in the next Congress.

“Basta handa kami ni Sen. Risa kahit kaming dalawa lang. Nag-usap na nga kami sa division of labor. Kailangan ng teamwork. Kailangan mayroon kaming flowchart or system or teamwork,” he said.—LDF, GMA News