đź“· Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla
FAR from the tough guy that he was once known for, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla suddenly took a step back amid the imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his minions facing an investigation over the extrajudicial killings during the previous administration.
This comes as Remulla told members of the Senate during his agency’s budget deliberation that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should go to local courts first when enforcing a warrant of arrest in the Philippines.
Remulla’s words were delivered in response to Senator Grace Poe who asked where the DOJ stands on the supposed arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Duterte and others for alleged extrajudicial killings in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“You have maintained that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction here, but you also reiterated that although you will not cooperate with them, you will not hinder them from conducting their investigation,” Poe said.
“We are no longer a member of the ICC, but right now, because of the technology that is available to all of us, it would be easy for them to go on Zoom, video call. With all of these probable witnesses who are here in the country, we cannot stop them from doing that. Freedom of communication I think is paramount when it comes to this,” Remulla responded.
“Kung gusto po nilang pumasok dito upang manghuli at magsagawa ng warrant na inisyu siguro ng ICC pagdating ng panahon, kailangan po itong dumaan sa ating court system. Ito po ay kinakailangan ng isang aksyon to enforce a warrant, a judgement,” he added.
Interestingly, Remulla went as far as dragging the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) as “obliged” to do the same thing – go through the local courts before making any arrest in the Philippines.
“There are some things that the Supreme Court would be looking at. If what was alleged in the crime would have happened when we are still a member of the ICC. That is one of the things that can be of importance to the courts when they will actually allow a warrant to be served in our country from an international tribunal,” he explained.
Upon hearing the news, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who forms part of the list of ICC suspects under the ICC investigation, was all praises for Remulla.
“Very good. That’s good development kung ganoon ang kanyang sinabi. Maganda yan. I’m happy that they are defending their turf and they are defending our sovereignty, our jurisdiction,” dela Rosa told reporters.
Aside from Duterte and dela Rosa, likewise implicated in the ICC investigation is retired police Gen. Oscar Albayalde who gained prominence over the alleged drug recycling pulled off by ninja cops. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
