PUBLIC interest lawyer and Team Pinas convenor Atty. Dino de Leon said on Saturday that the public should expect further action from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the drug war case against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, noting that warrants against alleged co-perpetrators may have already been issued under seal or could be forthcoming.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, De Leon said political attacks against the ICC will not stop the court process.
“Kahit anong performance, kahit na anong gawin sa Duterte Street, kahit na anong atake ng vice president of a sovereign country sa ICC, hindi yan magpapatinag,” he added.
Asked about reports that more people may be arrested in connection with the ICC case, De Leon said warrants may still be sealed.
“Sealed lang as of the moment para ang expectation ko may warrants of arrest or lalabas ‘yan anytime,” De Leon said.
He said those identified as co-perpetrators should not expect the ICC process to simply stop with Duterte.
“So you cannot be a co-perpetrator sa ICC tapos papabayaan ka ng ICC,” De Leon said.
“The mere fact na pinangalanan ka ng co-perpetrator means the warrant of arrest will be forthcoming,” he added.
De Leon specifically cited Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Ako ang expectation ko, Bong Go’s warrant of arrest is already there, and it’s going to be a matter of time before he also gets arrested,” De Leon said.
He alleged that Go had a major role in the drug war.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. Bong Go was a fundamental part and a chief implementer and a chief source of finance of the bloody war on drugs,” De Leon said.
He also referred to former police official Col. Royina Garma.
“Sinabi ni Col. Garma na sa kanya nanggagaling ang financing,” De Leon said. “In fact, Col. Garma would be a witness in the ICC proceeding.”
De Leon said Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa should also face the ICC if he maintains there was legal justification.
“Pero siguro unahin muna natin si Bato Dela Rosa kasi kung matapang talaga si Bato Dela Rosa haharapin niya ito at sasabahin niya si Rodrigo Duterte,” De Leon said.
“At kung totoong wala silang tinatago at may legal justification naman pala, his remedy is in the ICC,” he added.
De Leon also rejected the claim that the ICC is a foreign court detached from Philippine law.
“Hindi po yan foreign court, international court po ‘yan and international law is part of the law of the land,” De Leon said. “Batay po sa ating Saligang Batas, atin po yan, hindi po yan banyaga,” de Leon added.
