News Roundup 29 November 2023
Nov 29, 2023 • 4 min Read
House joint panel swiftly passes resolutions urging ICC cooperation | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Resolutions urging the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation have been approved by a House joint committee, with its proponents insisting that respect for the rule of law trumps relations with the former president’s defenders.
The House joint panels on human rights and justice approved three resolutions on Wednesday calling on the current government to work with the ICC’s ongoing probe of the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Duterte administration’s drug war.
The committees also approved a motion by Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st District) to combine the House resolutions with their counterpart in the Senate, which was filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, as a concurrent resolution of both chambers.
These resolutions — which are meant to express a chamber’s position but do not have the force of law — are gaining ground in both chambers of Congress even as former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies, including Vice President Sara Duterte, have publicly criticized lawmakers pushing for Marcos to cooperate with the ICC.
The three House resolutions approved by the joint panel are House Resolution 1477 authored by Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District) and Rep. Ramon Gutierrez (1-Rider Partylist), House Resolution 1393 authored by the Makabayan bloc, and House Resolution 1482 authored by Lagman.
Full Story at: House joint panel swiftly passes resolutions urging ICC cooperation | Philstar.com
Comelec disqualifies Smartmatic from procurements | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections has disqualified election technology provider Smarmatic from participating in procurements for all future polls, according to the poll body’s chairperson.
In posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Garcia announced the poll body’s verdict on a petition filed in June to disqualify Smarmatic — the only technology provider to exclusively supply machines for the country’s electoral processes since the country adopted automated elections in 2010.
The Venezuela-based company bagged contracts to provide election-related hardware and software for the country’s 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 elections.
“We have to maintain the integrity of our electoral process,” said Garcia, who has yet to provide more details about the decision.
Full Story at: Comelec disqualifies Smartmatic from procurements | Philstar.com
Dela Rosa vows to expose Kabataan solon’s links with CPP-NPA | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday vowed to do everything in his power to pin down Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel for the latter’s alleged involvement in the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“That’s why this person was so happy when they were made to believe that the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be allowed to enter the Philippines. He was really happy that the ICC would investigate me. Let’s see now, I will investigate you. I will do all my parliamentary powers to pin you down. You are actually a member of the CPP, which is the party of the NPA that is trying to destroy this government,” said De la Rosa, partly in Filipino.
Dela Rosa aired his frustration after former rebels Arian Jane Ramos and Kate Raca testified that Manuel is, indeed, a member of the CPP, recruiting students to be a part of NPA.
Full Story at: Dela Rosa vows to expose Kabataan solon’s links with CPP-NPA (inquirer.net)
Drilon supports resolution urging PH to cooperate with ICC probe | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Franklin Drilon said he fully supports opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ resolution urging Malacañang to work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and probe the alleged rights violations that transpired during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.
“I laud and support Senator Hontiveros’ resolution. We must adhere to our international legal obligations. Former President Duterte may have successfully and unilaterally closed the door to the ICC, but President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] now has the power to unlock it,” said Drilon in a statement.
The former senator proceeded to cite the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Pangilinan v. Cayetano, saying that despite the country’s withdrawal from the international tribunal, the state remains “obligated to fulfill its obligations under the ICC Statute, including cooperation in ongoing investigations and proceedings.”
“Its withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings in relation to which the withdrawing State had a duty to cooperate and which were commenced prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, nor shall it prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective,” said Drilon.
He likewise explained that President Marcos alone, being the chief foreign policy maker of the Philippines, could decide whether to allow or not the entry of ICC into the Philippines.Drilon said the concurrence of the Senate is no longer necessary for such a move.
