'Hindi ko matanggap': Bong Go decries anew move to surrender Duterte to the ICC

Manila Bulletin

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  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

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.

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