News Roundup 15 November 2023
Nov 15, 2023 • 4 min Read
Leila de Lima’s lawyers say she’s interested in helping ICC | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Leila de Lima may coordinate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity that were committed in the conduct of his war on drugs.
“I’m sure [she] will be very much interested since based on her statement last night during the press conference, she will continue with her advocacy on human rights and the rule of law. This case is a test case on human rights and the rule of law and justice,” one of De Lima’s lawyers, Boni Tacardon, told the Inquirer in an interview on Tuesday.
Another member of her legal team, lawyer Dino de Leon, noted that the former senator was among those who had initiated an investigation into the drug war and may be able to contribute to the ICC probe.
“She is, of course, interested in continuing the work that she has started. And again, if there is a need for her to become a resource person, or [turn over] all the pieces of evidence that she may have or that her committee was able to secure during that point in time (before being detained), she’s willing to furnish it to the ICC or to any investigating authority for that matter,” he said in a separate interview.
Full Story at: Leila de Lima’s lawyers say she’s interested in helping ICC | Inquirer News
Retired SC exec: PH still has obligation to cooperate with ICC probe | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has the obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding its investigation into violations committed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his bloody war on drugs.
“Let me just point out the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on this, sabi ng Supreme Court, while the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute and ICC took effect at a certain date, the Philippines has the obligation to comply, to cooperate with the ICC for acts committed before we withdrew,” retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio told reporters Wednesday.
Carpio was referring to the 2021 case of Pangilinan et al. vs. Cayetanon et al. where the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions that sought to declare as invalid the Philippine government’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We have the obligation to cooperate because these are crimes which were allegedly committed before we withdrew. It is our obligation. I am just quoting the Supreme Court decision,” Carpio said.
Full Story at: Former SC exec: PH has obligation to cooperate with ICC probe (inquirer.net)
QC prosecutor’s office summons ex-President Duterte over grave threat raps | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City prosecutor’s office (QCPO) asked former President Rodrigo Duterte to respond to the cybercrime charges filed against him by Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers).
In a subpoena released by the QCPO on Wednesday, Duterte has been asked to submit a counter-affidavit and was required to appear before the office of the city prosecutor on December 4 and 11, 2023.
This was the first time a summon was issued to Duterte since he stepped down from office.
On October 24, Castro filed grave threat complaint, covered under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Revised Penal Code, against Duterte. This was in response to his death threats against the lawmaker that aired on Sonshine Media Network International.
In the October 10 episode, Duterte said Castro was the “first target” of her daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.
Full Story at: QC prosecutor’s office summons ex-President Duterte over grave threat raps | Philstar.com
Second petition vs confidential funds reaches SC | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Another petition questioning the constitutionality of the confidential and intelligence funds reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday..
The petitioners filed a petition for certiorari and mandamus before the SC wherein they also asked to nullify Executive Order (EO) No. 2 and the Commission on Audit Joint Circular 2015-01 which allows the use, transfer and disbursement of the confidential funds.
Petitioners argued that the allocation and the release of confidential funds are unconstitutional as it violates Section 28 Article II of the Constitution which refers to the public disclosure of transactions involving public interest.
“There is no law that exempts full public disclosure and the people’s right to have access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to the Confidential Funds. Significantly, there is no showing that OVP’s (Office of the Vice President) conduct falls under any of the exceptions provided for under the aforementioned EO or any relevant laws,” the petition read.
According to the petitioners, this also violates the constitutional right of the people to information said in Article 3 Section 7.
Full Story at: Second petition vs confidential funds reaches SC | Philstar.com
