A heated exchange unfolded during the third Senate hearing on the possible arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands, as Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa clashed with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla over the country’s stance on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The tension peaked when Secretary Remulla questioned Senator Dela Rosa on whether he had responded to communications from the ICC regarding the court’s ongoing investigation. Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and one of those being probed for his role in the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, firmly refused.
“Why would I even respond? You yourself said the government does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC,” Dela Rosa said, addressing Remulla directly.
The justice secretary fired back, accusing Dela Rosa and Senator Imee Marcos of pressuring him and others into admitting things that do not warrant acknowledgment. “You’re trying to make people admit something they will not admit,” Remulla asserted.
The Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained its position of non-cooperation with the ICC, which is investigating alleged crimes against humanity linked to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The Senate inquiry continues to probe the legal and political implications of the ICC’s actions amid growing debate on accountability and sovereignty.
