Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he will not oppose the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war if he wins in the 2022 presidential race.
“Unang-una hindi po tayo tututol d’yan dahil karapatan nila bilang miyembro tayo ng international community, dapat natin igalang ang kanilang mga proseso,” Pacquiao said in an ANC interview when asked if he will allow the ICC investigation once elected president.
(First, I won’t oppose that because it is their right as we are a member of the international community. We should respect their process.)
In September, the ICC authorized the start of its investigation into the killings linked to the Philippines’ war on drugs.
Malacañang, however, maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines as the country has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently said he will prepare for his defense for the ICC investigation on his war on drugs after he steps down from office in 2022.
Human rights groups have blamed Duterte’s war on drugs for the deaths of over 26,000 people, most of them suspects who allegedly fought it out with arresting policemen.
The government pegged the number of drug war deaths at around 6,000 since 2016, the year Duterte, a tough-talking former Davao City mayor, assumed power.
West PHL Sea issue
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Pacquiao said he will assert the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea but will maintain good ties China.
“Iyang usapin sa West Philippine Sea, kailangan natin panindigan. Ipaglaban kung ano ‘yung atin at huwag tayong makipag-away. Hindi natin kailangan awayin ang China,” the former world boxing champion said.
(We should stand for the West Philippine Sea. We should fight for what is ours but we don’t have to fight China.)
“In fact, mas mabuti pang kaibiganin natin para makatulong sa ating bansa at pag-usapan, kung ano ‘yung atin, atin. Kunin natin. Ipaglaban natin. At kung ano ang makakatulong sa ating bansa, maka-ambag sa mga kababayang Pilipino na makaunlad sa ating bansa, ay doon tayo hindi naman tayo basta basta rin na magpapa-bully,” Pacquiao added.
(In fact, it is better to be friends with them so that they could help the country and talk with them. What is ours, is ours. We should stand for it. But we should also consider what could help the country and the Filipino people. We will not let them bully us.) —KBK, GMA News
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