Bensouda claim on Duterte drug war just politicking: Palace

By Prince Golez

Malacañang on Wednesday accused Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), of “politicking” when she said that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that crimes against humanity were committed in the government’s war on drugs.

“Alam ninyo sa totoo lang po, talagang namumulitika lang itong si Bensouda kasi ang pula sa kaniya eh ang talagang pinupuruhan niya ay ang mga Afrikano, iyong mga kapuwa Afrikano niya, so gumawa siya ng paraan para masabi, ‘Oh, mayroon naman akong ibang pinuruhan’,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with dzBB.

But, Roque said the Duterte administration won’t allow Bensouda, who launched the preliminary examination on the Philippines early 2018, to use the country as a political instrument.

“Dedma lang po ang Presidente. Bahala siya kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin. Baka makinabang ang kaniyang buhay pulitika doon sa kaniyang bayan sa Africa. Pero wala pong epekto kay Presidente,” according to him.

When asked if Bensouda’s statement will adversely affect the Philippine trade with other countries, the Palace official said: “Ang International Criminal Court po ay iyong individual criminal responsibility – pananagutan po iyan ng isang tao, hindi ng isang estado. So wala pong epekto iyan sa bansa man lang dahil ang sinasabi nila, may isang indibidwal na gumawa ng krimen, at iyong tao ang pinasasagot at hindi iyong bansa.”

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)