Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go should have all chances to avail of legal remedies amid the charges they now face before the International Criminal Court, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson also said the local Philippine courts must be respected in whatever course of action the ICC may take regarding the two senators, who it named as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“I think they should have the chance to avail of all legal options, because our local courts and processes must be respected. If there is an arrest warrant from the ICC or a foreign court, it should go through our local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the foreign entity’s arrest warrant,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ, when asked if the two should have the chance to avail of all legal remedies.
In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Mabigyan ng Pagkakataon si Sen. Bato at Go na Gamitin ang Legal Remedies sa Pagharap sa Kaso sa ICC
He also said the Senate will discuss possible options on what course of action to take, including what possible assistance to extend to dela Rosa and Go.
Lacson said Senate President Vicente Sotto III may call a caucus and consult the senators.
For now, he said it is still too early to tell because the ICC has not issued a bill of particulars indicating the charges and penalties the two senators may face.
“The Senate’s lawyers will study possible courses of action to take, given the circumstances,” he said.
“On the part of the senators, we’ll discuss the matter, if the senators decide to extend help. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he added.
*****
Lacson: Dapat Mabigyan ng Pagkakataon si Sen. Bato at Go na Gamitin ang Legal Remedies sa Pagharap sa Kaso sa ICC
Dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataon sina Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go na gamitin ang lahat ng legal na remedyo kaugnay ng mga kasong kinakaharap nila sa International Criminal Court (ICC), ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Iginiit din ni Lacson na dapat igalang ang mga lokal na hukuman sa Pilipinas sa anumang hakbang na maaaring isagawa ng ICC kaugnay sa dalawang senador, na tinukoy bilang mga co-perpetrators sa kampanya kontra droga ng dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
“Sa tingin ko oo. Kasi dapat igalang natin ang local courts. Pag may arrest warrant from ibang bansa, ICC o foreign court, dapat ito dinadaan natin sa local court at may corresponding order galing sa ating local court ilalabas para ma implement ang arrest warrant galing sa foreign entity,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DWIZ, nang tinanong kung dapat ba silang bigyan ng pagkaktaon mag-avail ng lahat na legal remedies.
Dagdag niya, tatalakayin ng Senado ang mga posibleng hakbang na maaaring gawin, kabilang ang anumang tulong na maaaring ibigay kina dela Rosa at Go.
Ani Lacson, maaaring magpatawag ng caucus si Senate President Vicente Sotto III upang konsultahin ang mga senador.
Sa ngayon, aniya, maaga pa upang magbigay ng tiyak na posisyon dahil hindi pa naglalabas ang ICC ng bill of particulars na naglalahad ng eksaktong mga kaso at posibleng parusa na maaaring kaharapin ng dalawang senador.
“Pag-aaralan yan ng mga abogado ng Senado anong nararapat gawin given the circumstances,” aniya.
“Sa part ng Senado paguusapan namin yan kung ang magiging decision ng nakararami e kung anong tulong ang maibibigay sa aming kasamahan. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” dagdag pa niya.
*****