SPEAKER Martin Romualdez allayed fears earlier aired by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa that the House of Representatives might be “weaponizing” the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue to silence former President Rodrigo Duterte and his followers — easily one of the harshest critics of the Speaker, and by extension, of the President.
Earlier, Senator Dela Rosa, who was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the height of Duterte’s bloody and controversial war on drugs, questioned the timing of House resolutions urging the Marcos government to cooperate with the ICC which is hell-bent on continuing its investigation and later, prosecution of Duterte in connection with perceived human rights violations during his term.
Dela Rosa asked a valid question: “Why did they file the resolutions only now when there’s a rift between the Speaker of the House and Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Duterte? It seems the people are thinking that, ‘Are they going to weaponize the ICC in order to silence the Dutertes? That’s the question.’”
‘… the Unity team of the last campaign isn’t that united as President Bongbong Marcos would like to picture it to be.’
There are three House resolutions urging the government to cooperate with the ICC. These were filed by party-list representatives France Castro, Arlene Brosas, and Raoul Daniel Manuel; Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Manila) and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider); and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
Although all about the ICC probe, these resolutions have various complexions, motives and objectives, depending on the filers. The Makabayan bloc of Castro, Brosas and Manuel has been consistently fighting Duterte on this issue and it is not surprising that they support this House action. Lagman, an independent member of the House, said he has never wavered in his position that Duterte should face the ICC probe. Their previous actions and pronouncements absolve them of the charge that they are espousing the international campaign to make Duterte accountable only now.
It is another matter, however, for Rep. Abante. Just last year, he was vigorously against the ICC’s initiative to investigate the former President on the charge of crimes against humanity. Now chairman of the human rights committee, Abante pedaled backwards this time.
Speaker Martin Romualdez has dismissed Senator Dela Rosa’s questions on the timing of the resolutions and the coming House hearings on them. Speaking to reporters in Cebu, he said the House joint committees on justice and on human rights are merely acting on the “grievances” of some lawmakers.
“Sense of the House naman ‘yan e. ‘Yan ang hinaing ng ibang mga kongresista (It’s just the sense of the House. That’s the grievances of some congressmen),” he said.
However much Romualdez tries to gloss over the issue, the fact remains that these developments in the House which he leads are indications of his growing rift with the Vice President. This feud started when the VP said something about the Visayan folktale “Tambaloslos” and was followed by the House’s removal of confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
It is common knowledge that members of the House of Representatives all depend on the Speaker for perks, allowances and confidential funds and most of them kowtow to House leadership. It does not matter whether they belong to the minority or the majority bloc. No committee hearing or investigation will proceed without the green light from the Speaker, especially on sensitive issues. That explains why after the House agriculture committee named the smugglers of onions and other agricultural products, some of who are allegedly close to Malacañang, the hearing was transferred to the ways and means committee where the issue died a natural death.
Romualdez need not deny the obvious that he and Sara Duterte has a rift, and that the Unity team of the last campaign isn’t that united as President Bongbong Marcos would like to picture it to be.
