PH on solid footing under PBBM amid Duterte arrest – lawmakers

MANILA – Lawmakers on Wednesday said the Philippines remains on solid footing under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s leadership, dismissing concerns that the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant could cause instability.

Deputy Majority Leader, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega, said the Marcos administration has maintained stability while pushing economic growth.

“From the last few weeks, nakita po natin na gumaganda po ‘yung ekonomiya natin (we have seen our economy improving),” Ortega said in a press conference.

He added that while some groups might stage protests, they do not pose risk to national stability.

“So, for me, tingin ko (I think), they will try to make noise, they will try to have their rallies, pero tingin ko hindi naman siya mag-cause ng direct na instability (but I don’t think it will directly cause instability),” Ortega said.

House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre said the Marcos administration’s strong economic policies and adherence to the rule of law are key stabilizing factors.

“We’ve seen kung paano ang ekonomiya natin… maganda ang fundamentals natin (We’ve seen how our economy is doing… our fundamentals are strong),” he said.

“Pangalawa, naipakita natin hindi lang sa ating bansa, kundi sa buong mundo na (Secondly, we have shown not only to our country, but to the whole world, that) the rule of law is applied equally to everyone in this country.”

Acidre, meanwhile, emphasized that the Philippine government’s cooperation in turning over Duterte to the ICC aligns with local and international laws.

He also said the Supreme Court has already affirmed that the country remains bound by ICC obligations for cases initiated before the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which established the international tribunal.

“I think the restriction of the ICC despite our withdrawal from the Rome Statute has been affirmed already by the Supreme Court, especially in the ruling in Pangilinan v. Cayetano,” Acidre said.

Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and local police stemmed from the ICC’s ongoing investigation into allegations that his anti-drug campaign led to thousands of extrajudicial killings when he was Davao City mayor and president of the country.

Duterte was flown out of the country Tuesday night via a chartered plane that would bring him to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICC headquarters is located.

In a press briefing Tuesday night, Marcos said Duterte’s arrest complied with the Philippines’ commitment to the Interpol. — Filane Mikee Cervantes (PNA)