MANILA, Philippines – Pormal na tinalikuran ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo “Digong” Roa Duterte ang kanyang karapatang dumalo sa International Criminal Court (ICC) hearings ukol sa confirmation of charges laban sa kanya sa susunod na linggo na may kaugnayan sa kanyang giyera laban sa ilegal na droga.
Sa isang nilagdaang notification na may petsang Pebrero 17, sinabi ni Duterte na hindi siya dadalo sa pagdinig mula Pebrero 23 hanggang 27 dahil sa ilang mga dahilan, subalit ang pangunahin ay dahil hindi niya kinikilala ang hurisdiksyon ng ICC sa kanya.
Ang notification ay isinumite sa ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I noong Miyerkules, Pebrero 18.
“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,” ayon kay Duterte.
Pinalagan din ng dating Pangulo ang sinasabing pinangasiwaan niya ang “a policy of extra-judicial killings” at itinuring ito bilang isang “outrageous lie.”
“These claims have been peddled by my political opponents for many years and, as my nation knows, they are based on the word of individuals whose credibility has been thoroughly discredited,” aniya pa.
Aniya rin, hindi niya “wish to attend legal proceedings that I will forget within minutes,” na tinukoy ang mahina niyang kondisyon at pag-amin na maaari siyang mamatay sa kulungan.
“I am old, tired and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me. I have accepted the fact that I could die in prison. But those that desire this fate for me should know that my heart and soul will always remain in the Philippines,” ang sinabi ni Duterte.
Patuloy naman niyang ipinagmamalaki ang kanyang legacy at serbisyo sa mga Pilipino sa buong mundo.
“Let no one doubt my love for and loyalty to the Filipino nation. Kaninyo, ako, magpabiling suluguon (para sa inyo, mananatili akong lingkod),” aniya.
Sinabi pa ni Duterte na naiintindihan niya ang consequences ng pag-waive niya sa kanyang karapatang dumalo sa confirmation of charges hearing, at ito ay malinaw na ipinaliwanag sa kanya ng kanyang legal counsel.
“I trust him and his team to challenge the sufficiency of the Prosecution’s evidence on my behalf. I do not wish to follow these proceedings from outside the courtroom through the use of communications technology,” dagdag pa niya. Kris Jose
