Palace on Alan Cayetano's Duterte house arrest resolution: 'Noted'

''Noted.'' 

This was the response of Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro when asked for comment on the resolution filed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano calling the Philippine government to push for the interim release of former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The senator also urged the administration to enter into an agreement to place Duterte under house arrest at the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands. 

According to Castro, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ''Boying'' Remulla already made a remark about the request for interim release. 

''Nagsalita na po ang SOJ Boying Remulla patungkol po sa interim release. At kung may ganiyan pong mga suggestions mula kay Senator Alan Cayetano, noted,'' she said during Friday's briefing. 

On Saturday, Cayetano said that “noted” was better than “no.''

“Ako'y nagpapasalamat na hindi agad shi-noot down din ng Malacañang ang proposal. ‘Noted’ is much better than ‘no’… Ibig sabihin, ‘We’ll listen. Pag-usapan natin,’” he said.

(I am grateful that the Malacañang did not immediately shoot down he proposal. ‘Noted’ is much better than ‘no’… This means ‘We’ll listen. Let’s talk about it.’)

In response to public debate regarding his resolution, Cayetano asked if the country was truly pro-human rights.

“We have to examine our heart… Are we compassionate as a people? If we’re only compassionate sa mga mahal natin, pero d’un sa mga taong galit tayo we’re not compassionate, then we’re not compassionate,” he said.

(We have to examine our heart… Are we compassionate as a people? If we’re only compassionate to the ones we love, but are not compassionate to the people we are angry at, then we’re not compassionate.)

“Values have to be seen in our life, in our actions. Kung hindi, hindi natin values y’un… When we say that we want justice, that goes both ways. Ganoon din ‘pag sinasabi nating tayo ay maka-human rights,” he added.

(Values have to be seen in our life, in our actions. If not, then those aren’t our values… When we say that we want justice, that goes both ways. That also applies when we say that we are pro-human rights.)

“Kung halimbawa po kakampi niyo y’ung nakulong doon, will you have the same values? Ang values natin nate-test pagka ayaw natin i-apply yung value na ‘yun,” he added.

(If for example your colleague is the one imprisoned there, will you have the same values? Our values are tested when we have to apply it to the ones we dislike the most.) 

Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, who chaired the House committee on human rights in the 19th Congress, expressed no objection to the proposed Senate resolution saying it may have no impact at all.

"The resolution does not have any bearing at all dahil 'yung resolution naman is asking the Philippine government, di ba? And the request should come from the Philippine government kung papagamit nila 'yung ating embassy sa Netherlands para 'yung ating dating Pangulo ay doon siya mag-stay," Abante told reporters in an online interview.

"I believe that Sen. Allan would have the right to file any resolution. Yet sa akin, I don't think there is any bearing on that as far as the ICC is concerned," he added.

The legislator said there is no assurance yet if the Philippine government will heed the resolution in case it is adopted by the Senate. But even if the government does, Abante said it is also unknown what action the International Criminal Court will take on the matter.

"Well, it remains to be seen kung 'yan ay aprubahan ng ating pamahalaan. As far as I'm concerned, kahit na po siguro ang ating pamahalaan ay mag-request sa Netherlands about that, I do not know if the ICC would listen sapagkat palagay ko mukhang hindi na yata pinakinggan 'yung petition ng kampo ni dating pangulo na siya ay ilagay sa isang o itangkilik ng ibang bansa. So kung 'yan ang nangyari, I don't think that the ICC would also try to accommodate him on that," Abante explained.

He reiterated that he has no objection to the resolution especially if it concerns the health of the former president.

"I do not have any problem with that actually. If the government will be able to justify that resolution, baka maaari. Sa akin, medyo okay na rin kung, halimbawa, he'll be staying at the embassy ng Pilipinas for health consideration. Again, gusto ko lang sabihin na I do not know if the ICC would actually listen. But sa akin, walang problema yon," he said.

"Siguro naman, I think the Philippine Embassy also has, perhaps, a mandate to help the Filipino abroad on that consideration. Palagay ko naman, titingnan din maigi ng ating embahada ang health condition ng ating dating Pangulo because that would be their concern," Abante added.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep Antonio Tinio, for his part, expressed belief that Cayetano's proposal cannot be implemented because the Philippines is no longer a party to the Rome Statute.

"The proposal to have Duterte detained in the Philippine embassy in The Hague is a non-starter, since the ICC will only consider interim release to a member state. Too bad for him now, since Duterte himself caused the Philippines to withdraw from the ICC. Or does the senator expect special treatment for Duterte from the ICC? In which case it’s not going to happen," Tinio said in a statement.

"Yet another senator playing to the gallery, telling Duterte supporters what they want to hear to rally the faithful and keep them agitated," he added.

Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11, based on a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC. He is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague. 

His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, earlier said that the former president has lost a lot of weight since his detention in The Hague, describing him now as “skin and bones.” 

She also said that her father has asked that his remains be cremated should he pass away while detained in The Hague.—with Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News