Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed dismay anew over former President Rodrigo Duterte being surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) instead of facing trial in the country’s judicial authorities.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/21/hindi-ko-matanggap-bong-go-decries-anew-move-to-surrender-duterte-to-the-icc
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READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/21/hindi-ko-matanggap-bong-go-decries-anew-move-to-surrender-duterte-to-the-icc
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NewsTranscript
00:00I do not fully accept that he is being treated as a Filipino in other countries.
00:10Meanwhile, we have a good judicial system in our country that is respected.
00:18It is an independence as a country.
00:21We have our own law, our own process, our own court
00:27We have the ability to punish anyone who commits a crime in our country.
00:32Madam Chair, this is now a matter of principle, justice and humanity.
00:37We have our own system of justice.
00:40If a Filipino commits a crime, we should be the judge.
00:45We must protect our citizens and we must stand as one.
00:49Madam Chair, since then until now, Solicitor General Minardo Guevara has been arguing that the ICC has no jurisdiction in our country.
01:01If the government is consistent in this position that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court,
01:08why did it allow the implementation of the Warrant of Arrest, the Interpol, from a court that we do not recognize?
01:17If there really is no jurisdiction and the Interpol or ICC has a Warrant of Arrest,
01:23I hope the government would first give the authority through the proper authority,
01:28like judicial court, to verify or confirm the validity of the arrest warrant.
01:33This issue is not only for President Duterte.
01:36It is important to talk about the sovereignty of the Philippines here.
01:42We are proud of our citizens who risked their lives for our freedom.
01:48We are proud of the fact that our sovereignty continues to care for our children
01:54so that our children can live in a country that is free and respected by other countries.
02:00For every Filipino, whether their status in life is high or low,
02:05there should be a government that will not neglect them.
02:10Whether they are former presidents or not,
02:12it is their right, especially when it comes to their well-being, safety, and life.
02:18In the end, even though Father Digong was there,
02:21he bravely faced the case that was filed against him.
02:25Like what he repeatedly promised,
02:29it is very painful for me that after he sacrificed himself for the future of our children and every Filipino.
02:39A Filipino should not be judged by him.
02:43Instead of giving the Filipinos the judgment for what former President Duterte did
02:49in the fight against drugs and criminality, sadly, that is not what happened.
02:54As I said, for me, Filipinos should be the ones to judge the real situation in the country.
03:02If our children are able to move forward,
03:05if they are able to live in a country that is free from harm and corruption,
03:10you should be the ones to judge.
03:13Filipinos should be the ones to judge.
03:16Father Digong loved us.
03:18He did everything for the country.
03:21He is old now.
03:23He doesn't want to run for president anymore.
03:26But he did it because that is his sworn duty for our fellow Filipinos.
03:38But now, Father Digong is not the only one who is being defended and given by our fellow Filipinos.
03:44He also wants to be defended and given the right of the Filipinos to judge our fellow Filipinos
03:52and to decide what is better for our country.
03:56As I said, March 11 was indeed the saddest day in our history.
04:02I hope this will not happen again.
04:07Many Filipinos were hurt.