đź“·Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez
A new law is not anymore needed to set up special courts for investigating crimes committed during the Duterte administration’s drug war, according to Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.
The lawmaker, who co-chairs the quad committee of the House of Representatives, made the pronouncement as Former President Rodrigo Duterte wants to be investigated in a “special court” in the country if he were to be held accountable for the thousands of deaths during his drug war.
For context, Duterte wants to be tried by a special court during the Quad Commission hearing on Wednesday, shortly after challenging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate him for crimes against humanity.
However, he emphasized that he did not want to be prosecuted or judged by “white people,” seemingly unaware that ICC prosecutors and judges come from various nationalities.
“We have existing law that will govern this special case,” Fernandez said, as The Philippine Star reported.
“Since we have already existing law, we might as well designate our Philippine courts as mentioned in RA 9851. Designating a court in the judiciary will be the fastest and most economical way to do it,” he added.
He explained that Section 18 of Republic Act (RA) 9851, also known as the “Act defining and penalizing crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide, and other crimes against humanity, organizing jurisdiction, designating special courts, and for related purposes,” grants Philippine courts, prosecutors, and investigators original and exclusive jurisdiction over offenses punishable under this law.
Following Duterte’s statement about his willingness to face trial, Fernandez urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to promptly review all evidence presented to the quad committee by witnesses and resource persons.
Meanwhile, Representative Bienvenido Abante also told The Star in a separate message that he plans to file a bill proposing the establishment of special courts dedicated to handling cases of extrajudicial killings, particularly those linked to the war on drugs.
“To try to lessen the load of our courts….for PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) wanting to create a special court to try him, he can be tried before special courts that I want created…not a special court for him,” Abante said. (TCSP)
