HOUSE spokesperson Princess Abante yesterday laughed off Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. colluded with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in arresting her father, former president Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, saying that the crimes against humanity that the latter is facing is based on solid evidence and not mere gossip.
“Well, ‘yung statement ni VP ay base sa Marites. Ang kaso doon sa ICC ay ayon sa ebidensya. Siguro doon tayo tututok kung ano ‘yung pinagbabasehan ng mga reklamo. Hindi ito galing sa anumang tsismis. Ito ay galing sa mga ebidensya at testimonies ng mga witnesses (The VP’s statement is based on gossip. The ICC case is based on evidence. Perhaps, we should focus on the basis of the complaints. It did not come from rumors. It came from evidence and the testimonies of witnesses),” Abante told a press conference.
The Vice President, who is visiting her father in detention at The Hague in the Netherlands, said on Saturday “there is someone inside the ICC detention that was detained based on rumors.”
The younger Duterte repeated her allegations that the Marcos administration conspired with the ICC, insisting that the former president is now detained “because he did his job for the country.”
Abante, a lawyer, said the ICC case is anchored on “international legal process supported by documentary evidence and victim testimonies, not hearsay or political noise.”
Zambales Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun said the Vice President is again muddling the truth and resorting to propaganda to propagate a lie, an act which he said is “twisted” and “insulting.”
“Tsismis ba ang libo-libong patayan? Tsismis ba ang luha ng mga nanay na naulila? Tsismis ba ang mga ulat ng international and local human rights groups? (Are the thousands of killings just rumor? Are the tears of mothers who lost their children just gossip? Are the reports of international and human rights groups only rumors?)” he said.
“You call this gossip, we call it justice. Kung talagang walang kasalanan, harapin. Hindi ‘yung puro drama at siraan ang ginagawa (If you’re really innocent, face it. Stop the drama and maligning the process),” he added.
The administration lawmaker also assailed the Vice President over her collusion remarks, saying that she is attempting to mislead the public and stir unrest.
“Walang kuntsabahan. Walang pakikialam. At lalong walang script na siya ang nagpahuli sa dating Pangulo (There was no connivance. No meddling and no script that the President was the one behind the arrest),” he said.
“President Bongbong Marcos is not hiding behind kindness. He leads with calm, principle and respect for the rule of law. Hindi siya tulad ng mga lider na kailangang sumigaw, manakot at magsinungaling para mapansin (He’s not like other leaders who yell, threaten and lie to gain attention),” he said.
Khonghun said the President is not in control of every government action. “We are no longer under a regime where one man can order arrests left and right. President Marcos governs with restraint and humility, not with vendetta,” he said.
He said the Vice President’s statements not only undermine democratic institutions but also “diminish her own credibility.”
“If this is how she plans to run a national campaign, by attacking the truth and weaponizing victimhood, then the Filipino people deserve to know what kind of leadership she truly offers,” Khonghun said.
