Palace says ICC should wake up from stupor, not allow itself to be used by 'destabilizers'
By Genalyn Kabiling
The International Criminal Court (ICC) should wake up from its “stupor or ignorance” and realize it is being used by the “destabilizers” of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Atty. Jude Sabio, an erstwhile ally of former Senator Antonio Trillanes Jr., pulled out the complaint he filed against Duterte for alleged rights violations before the ICC.
The complaint withdrawn by Sabio indicated that it was part of the "vilification campaign" by the political opposition against the President, according to Panelo.
"The ICC has to wake up from its stupor if not ignorance," Panelo said in a statement Wednesday.
"It should realize by now that it is being used by disgruntled and discredited persons to advance their goal of besmirching the reputation of PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) and achieving their impossible dream of brining down the Duterte presidency," he said.
He said the ICC should also recognize "the unalterable legal fact that it has no jurisdiction over the President, and for that matter, the Philippines."
Sabio recently said the communication he filed before the ICC in April 2017 should be "set aside and trashed" since it was being used by Trillanes and other opposition members for political propaganda. The communication alleged right abuses committed in the government's war on illegal drugs.
Sabio earlier had a public falling out with Trillanes over unpaid legal services.
Panelo, in his latest statement, said Trillanes must be "squirming in his disgraced retirement" over Sabio's turnabout.
"Sabio claims he has withdrawn his complaint because he didn’t want to be a part of the political propaganda of Trillanes and the Liberal Party. Put simply, the complaint against President Duterte, orchestrated by Trillanes, is part of the vilification campaign relentlessly pursued by the incorrigible detractors as well as the political opposition totally repudiated by the electorate," he said.
"Lies can only be sustained for sometime. When conscience haunts and torments the peddler, it melts by the heat of truth," he added.
He said the "destabilizers" of the Duterte administration are gradually "being undressed." "Their obnoxious smell like ash fall pollute the air," he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Atty. Jude Sabio, an erstwhile ally of former Senator Antonio Trillanes Jr., pulled out the complaint he filed against Duterte for alleged rights violations before the ICC.
The complaint withdrawn by Sabio indicated that it was part of the "vilification campaign" by the political opposition against the President, according to Panelo.
"The ICC has to wake up from its stupor if not ignorance," Panelo said in a statement Wednesday.
"It should realize by now that it is being used by disgruntled and discredited persons to advance their goal of besmirching the reputation of PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) and achieving their impossible dream of brining down the Duterte presidency," he said.
He said the ICC should also recognize "the unalterable legal fact that it has no jurisdiction over the President, and for that matter, the Philippines."
Sabio recently said the communication he filed before the ICC in April 2017 should be "set aside and trashed" since it was being used by Trillanes and other opposition members for political propaganda. The communication alleged right abuses committed in the government's war on illegal drugs.
Sabio earlier had a public falling out with Trillanes over unpaid legal services.
Panelo, in his latest statement, said Trillanes must be "squirming in his disgraced retirement" over Sabio's turnabout.
"Sabio claims he has withdrawn his complaint because he didn’t want to be a part of the political propaganda of Trillanes and the Liberal Party. Put simply, the complaint against President Duterte, orchestrated by Trillanes, is part of the vilification campaign relentlessly pursued by the incorrigible detractors as well as the political opposition totally repudiated by the electorate," he said.
"Lies can only be sustained for sometime. When conscience haunts and torments the peddler, it melts by the heat of truth," he added.
He said the "destabilizers" of the Duterte administration are gradually "being undressed." "Their obnoxious smell like ash fall pollute the air," he added.