00:00The Department of Justice has, for all intents and purposes, abdicated its duty to prosecute the charges against the former president in lieu or in respect to the ICC, which has taken up the cudgels to do the job.
00:12Still, the Philippine government is providing all the assistance it can muster to help the ICC, but will be severely challenged in financing the witnesses in the WPP to fly to The Hague to testify, as our Luisa Erisme reports.
00:25The government has been cooperating with the International Criminal Court since the month of May.
00:33This was confirmed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulia, but he explained this is only to protect the witnesses for the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte related to his illegal drug war operations.
00:47According to Remulia, the ICC called the Witness Protection Program.
00:51It's ongoing at masaya. I told our program director to cooperate and to help them. And so far, for the past two months, starting May, nagsimula na itong pag-aano natin, nagko-cooperate for witness protection.
01:14According to Remulia, as of now, there are three to four witnesses under the WPP.
01:18We will protect the witnesses. Whatever it takes to protect the witnesses, we will do. Because the prosecution will rely on these witnesses.
01:28Mahalakang, yung testigo, makarating na maayos ang panayang testimonya. Para ba naman natin kung ano talaga ang nangyayon sa mga panahon na ito?
01:36Remulia clarified, though they are under the WPP, it is not the obligation of the Philippine government to pay for their flights to The Hague, Netherlands.
01:44Their role is only to provide physical protection to the witnesses. He also said, this is not an indication that the Philippines will be rejoining the ICC.
01:54That is another decision that we will have to raise the country. It just means that we recognize the international tribunal in charge of the case.
02:02Kasi doon na natin din nila si Panginoong Duterte, former President Duterte.
02:06With regards to the case in the Philippines, Remulia admitted his office is struggling to resume the investigation.
02:12We already chose not to pursue the cases and let the ICC pursue these cases. Given that, it becomes also our obligation to help them because we are giving up our jurisdiction for their jurisdiction.
02:26Kasi niya, ang hirap na i-prove your case dito at i-build up ang kaso dahil yung mga kailangan mong magsalita ay kasama sa klinik.
02:38Kaya komplikato dito. Komplikato dito. Kaya pinakubayan naman sa ICC yung pagkahabol na ito.
02:45Luisa Erispe from The National TV for a new and better Philippines.
