Magdalo party-list mulls accusing Duterte at int'l court

MANILA, Philippines — After his impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte was junked in the House of Representatives, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano on Monday said his camp is considering filing a case against him before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Actually the ICC can proceed but with what happened right now pinapag-isipan ko ho at i-discuss ko sa grupo na sasama na ho kaming magreklamo sa ICC kasi saan ho tayo papunta, kanino ako magrereklamo, sa DOJ? Kay Secretary Aguirre? Saan tayo pupunta? Wala ho tayong pupuntahan," Alejano said at a televised press conference.

"Ngayon, hahanapan nating paraan para makahanap tayo ng hustisya so pag-iisipan ho naming, idi-discuss ho namin na mag-file din kami ng sariling complain namin," he added.

Alejano’s decision came after his bid to oust Duterte was dismissed at the House of Representatives which were dominated by pro-Duterte lawmakers.

Duterte's chief counselor, Salvador Panelo, reacted to Alejano's announced plan, saying he should instead "plant trees in his province instead of creating a forest of lies" against the president."

The House justice committee declared Alejano's impeachment complaint, the first filed against Duterte, sufficient in form but insufficient in substance. The members of the committee disissed the complaint after an hour-long closed-door session.

During the House committee’s deliberation, committee member Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, said that Alejano should demonstrate first-hand or "personal" knowledge of the violations alleged in the complaint. He said newspaper reports are "not authentic records."

'Disappointing Congress'

Alejano was also not allowed to deliver a statement during the deliberation despite his informal request to the committee.

The solon filed his complaint against Duterte in March. He accused the president of violating the Constitution in allowing killings linked to the war on drugs and treason in conferral with China on matters of the maritime domain.

"Pinilit kong maniwala sa proseso ng Kongreso pero nakita naman ho natin ang nangyari," Alejano said.

Meanwhile, Alejano’s ally, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV expressed dismay over the dismissal of impeachment case. "Nakakadismaya kasi nag-eexpect ka sana na mabubuksan ang katotohanan," he said in a statement.

A case against Duterte is pending before the ICC. Lawyer of confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, Jude Jose Sabio last April 24 filed a communication before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands against Duterte and 11 other senior government officials.

Sabio accused Duterte of violating different provisions of the Rome Statute due to alleged drug-related killings. — with a report from Alexis Romero