Sara: World sees grave abuse of power in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said that what the world is witnessing in the Philippines is a “grave abuse of power” as shots were fired last Wednesday on the second floor of the Senate building, triggering chaos and panic.

“What is happening in our country today is saddening and infuriating. Especially in showing disrespect to the institution of the Senate,” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.

The events unfolded after the Supreme Court did not issue the temporary restraining order sought by fugitive Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. Instead the SC ordered the government to comment within 72 hours on his petition for a TRO against his arrest and turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

“I already said before when I was first asked about the ICC warrant and I said that I don’t think that’s possible because foreign courts and foreign tribunals have no jurisdiction within the Philippines. That’s why all issuances of foreign courts and foreign tribunals in the Philippines are invalid,” she said.

Duterte said that Dela Rosa is protected under the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.

“This means that Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s rights were violated. And we’ve seen it before,” Duterte said.

“We saw it before when former president Rodrigo Duterte was kidnapped. There was an extraordinary rendition. That was not surrender. Because you took it by force. You took a person from his country to another country… That’s what they’re trying to do now to Sen. Bato dela Rosa,” Duterte added.

In the absence of the TRO, authorities were expected to carry out Dela Rosa’s arrest for crimes against humanity.

“When the administration moves, there is no Constitution, no law. It’s just abuse, intimidation and violence,” Duterte said.

The Vice President accused the Marcos administration of “using all government resources to demolish political opposition or those individuals who do not follow or agree or support BBM.”

“The President should focus on economic recovery and reforms, not on politics,” she said.

The Vice President also said that the former president was aware of what happened at the Senate building.

“Apparently, he saw it on the news. I have no plans to mention to him earlier, the incident in the Philippines. But it appeared in the news and he saw it on his TV,” the Vice President said.