Bam Aquino: EJK cases should be tried in PH courts

Senator Bam Aquino on Tuesday said cases against individuals implicated in alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s drug war should "ideally" be tried in Philippine courts rather than before an international tribunal.

Aquino made the statement after the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor identified Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as among the alleged co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking in an interview on Unang Balita, Aquino said the Philippines must confront the killings that occurred and pursue justice locally, noting that the victims and their families are in the country.

“Ako personally, nasabi ko naman na ‘to noon, ‘yung mga nangyaring pagpatay sa ating bansa at kailangan po nating harapin na nagkaroon talaga ng extrajudicial killings sa ating bansa, ay dapat po ang mga trial niyan, ideally, ay dapat dito talaga sa Pilipinas kasi ang mga biktima po ay nandito rin sa Pilipinas,” he said. 

(Personally, I think the killings that happened in our country, and we have to face the fact that there were extrajudicial killings in our country, the trials for that should ideally be here in the Philippines because the victims are also here in the Philippines.) 

“Siguro ‘yung hustisya sa mga bagay na nangyari dito, ay maganda rin pong mangyari dito ang paghahanap ng hustisya,” he added. 

(Maybe we should search for justice here, where the alleged crimes happened.) 

Despite this, Aquino said he respects the ongoing process at the ICC, which is based in The Hague.

He added that senators are expected to discuss the matter involving Go and dela Rosa in a caucus, but emphasized the need to wait for the court’s formal actions before drawing conclusions.

The confirmation of charges in Duterte’s case is scheduled to begin on February 23, with subsequent hearings set for February 24, 26, and 27.—MCG, GMA Integrated News