Kumuda si Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Atty. Leila de Lima matapos ipahayag ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ito ay hindi sisipot sa nalalapit na pagdinig ng International Criminal Court (ICC) hinggil sa kaniyang kaso.

Matatandaang nanindigan si FPRRD na siya ay hindi dadalo sa naturang pagdinig bunsod umano ng kaniyang katandaan.

“I do not wish to attend legal proceedings that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me,” ani FPRRD.

MAKI-BALITA: ‘I am old, tired and frail!’ FPRRD, nanindigang ‘di sisipot sa confirmation of charges hearing ng ICC-Balita

Ayon naman sa isang pahayag na ibinahagi ni De Lima nitong Huwebes, Pebrero 19, patunay lamang daw ang nasabing dokumento na may kakayahan si Duterte na ipagtanggol ang kaniyang sarili.

“Duterte's waiver and declaration is proof that he is of sound mind. Its legal effect is based on the premise that he understood the statement so as to affix his signature to it. It is evidence against Kaufman's own argument that Duterte is not fit to stand trial because he is supposedly unable to give instructions for his defense. The statement is clear evidence that Duterte is able to defend himself,” ani De Lima.

Giit pa niya, ang mga naging pahayag ng dating Pangulo ay pawang propaganda at legal na estratehiya lamang.

“The statement is meant to serve both as propaganda and legal strategy. It is propaganda as it projects a defiant Duterte but at the same time appeals to the emotion by saying he already expects to die inside prison,” aniya.

“It is legal strategy because Duterte's appearance will not serve any positive purpose but might endanger his defense in case Kaufman is not able to control him before the ICC judges, as Duterte is famous for his outbursts in whatever venue regardless of the solemnity of the occasion,” dagdag pa niya.

Inilahad din ng mambabatas ang aniya’y dahilan kung bakit sinasabi ni FPRRD na ito ay kinidnap umano ng ICC.

“The statement reveals that up to now he cannot accept that human beings are subject to accountability for their actions, that the ICC is real, that there is such a higher power and authority that can put him on trial and hold him to account. That is why he says the ICC kidnapped him and has no authority over him. For him, nothing and no one is above him. Because of this, other than defiance and denial, the statement only reveals Duterte's pathological mindset—he still thinks, even when already in prison, that he is not beholden to any law or morality other than his own,” anang mambabatas.

Matatandaang nanindigan din ang dating pangulo na nais niyang i-waive ang karapatan niyang dumalo sa nasabing pagdinig dahil hindi umano niya kinikilala ang hurisdiksyon ng ICC.

“I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over my person. I am a Filipino citizen forcibly pushed into a jet and renditioned to The Hague in the Netherlands in flagrant contravention of my country’s Constitution and of national sovereignty. My kidnapping was facilitated by the office of the incumbent President of the Philippines with a plane specially chartered for this purpose,” anang dating pangulo.

Isasagawa ang pagdinig ng ICC sa kaso ni Duterte sa Pebrero 23 hanggang 27.

Vincent Gutierrez/BALITA