“Your favorable action on this matter would not only serve the noble ends of international criminal justice, but would also be the beginning of the end of this dark, obscene, murderous and evil era in the Philippines,”sabi Sabio kay ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.

 Ito ang unang pagkakataon na kinasuhan ang isang presidente ng krimen laban sa sangkatauhan.

 “Crimes against humanity are crimes of universal jurisdiction, but where a State like the Philippines fails to assume such universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity continuously being committed in its very own territory, then the International Criminal Court will have to intervene into a situation that is grave by any human standard,” dagdag ni Sabio.

 Idinagdag ni Sabio na tinatayang mahigit 7,000 na ang napapatay dahil sa kampanya kontra droga ni Duterte sa loob lamang ng walong buwan, kumpara sa 3,000 napatay sa 20-taong rehimen ni yumaong pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.

 Bukod kay Duterte, kinasuhan din sina Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre; Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Ronald de la Rosa; Supt. Edilberto Leonardo; Supt. Royina Garma; House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez; dating Interior secretary Ismael Sueno; SPO4 Sanson “Sonny” Buenaventura; National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran; Solicitor General Jose Calida; Senator Richard Gordo; at Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

 Maaaring ipaaresto ng mga judge Pre-Trial Chamber sina Duterte at iba pang akusado sakaling makitaan ng ebidensiya na sangkot nga sila sa mga krimen laban sa sangkatauhan. </s> A criminal case was filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands for his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings when he was still mayor of Davao City, and now as President of the Philippines.

In the 77-page communication submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, Jude Sabio, lawyer of self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, accused Duterte of violating the Articles of the Rome Statute through mass murder or extrajudicial executions, which, he claimed, constituted crimes against humanity.

Duterte allegedly committed the crimes during his tenure as mayor of Davao City, through his personal involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad, and now as President of the Philippines through his war on drugs.

The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC, the first permanent international court that is capable of trying perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression—the statute’s four core international crimes.

The Philippines is a state party to the Rome Statute, together with other 123 state parties, after ratifying it in August 2011.

Apart from Duterte, 11 of his allies including two senators were also charged for violating provisions of the Rome Statute.

Others facing charges at the ICC are Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Richard Gordon, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd, Police National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald de la Rosa, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, Supt. Edilberto Leonardo, Senior Police Officer 4 Sanson “Sonny” Buenaventura, Supt. Royina Garma, National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran, and Solicitor General Jose Calida.

Sabio said Gordon, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and sponsor of Senate Committee Report No. 18196 on the spate of summary execution of suspected drug trader, is liable for “ultimately concluding that killings are not state-sponsored.”

He added that Cayetano aided and abetted the killings “through his speeches and public pronouncements.”

 Sabio cited in his complaint the similarities in the killings in Davao City and in the drug war.

“The basic material hallmarks or elements in the extrajudicial executions by the Davao Death Squad in Davao City and in the continued extrajudicial executions after President Duterte became the President are too numerous and too obvious to escape scant attention,” he said.

He noted the presence police participation and command; the element of a hitman or an unknown armed assailant; the establishment of a reward system for every killing; the existence of a kill watch list; collaboration between barangay (village) and police officials; cardboard signs and faces or bodies wrapped in packing tape; the use of motorcycle-riding assailants; and planting of guns and drugs.

Sabio said Duterte had completely ignored the appeals of local and international human rights groups and other international bodies to stop the killings.

Also, Duterte’s officials and allies have become instruments in covering up the issue in the media and congressional investigations.

“It is for these reasons that I have referred this case to the ICC to make President Duterte accountable for his crimes in the name of international criminal justice, and to once and for all end this dark, obscene, murderous and evil era in the Philippines,” Sabio said.

After filing the case, the ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, will determine whether it falls within the jurisdiction of the ICC and if it is proper to file criminal charges against the accused, before investigating the case and issuing a warrant of arrest against the President and other respondents.

Malacañang on Monday dismissed as “baseless” the complaint filed against President Duterte before the ICC in The Hague.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella suspected that the filing of the case was “meant to create negative news” amid the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

“It cannot prosper. International Criminal Court rules provide that the ICC, as a court of last resort, will only exercise jurisdiction over a case once legal remedies in the Philippines have been exhausted. Atty. Sabio or his client, Mr. Edgardo Matobato, did not avail/exhaust all domestic remedies allowed under the Philippine Constitution,” Abella said.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said such complaint would not flourish because there was no basis to allege that Duterte had ordered the extrajudicial killings.

Panelo noted that under the international treaty, murder should have been committed against a class of people, which was not the case in Sabio’s complaint.

“It is not a state-sponsored war in respect to the extrajudicial killings. The [extrajudicial killings]come up because of members of the syndicates who are killing each other, they’re spilling the beans against their own comrades. Those in danger of being prosecuted and arrested would necessarily silence those who are pointing fingers at them,” he told reporters.

“Even assuming that there is police participation in these killings, the police records would show that those who have abused their authority were charged in court. That will negate the claim that it is state-initiated. Otherwise they would have not been charged,” he added.

Matobato last year confessed before the Philippine Senate that he was part of the so-called Davao Death Squad, which was allegedly formed by Duterte to eliminate political opponents and drug addicts.

The ICC complaint was based on the testimonies of Matobato, retired policeman Arturo Lascañas, media reports and reports from rights groups.

Almost 9,000 people have been killed since Duterte assumed the presidency in June 2016. </s> Manila: Senator Leila De Lima was detained in a jail at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Metro Manila’s suburban Quezon City after her arrest from the Senate for three drug-related cases.

The legislator is being accused of protecting convicted international and local drug lords from 2010 to 2016, when she was justice secretary, to raise millions of pesos for her senatorial bid with the Liberal Party in the May 2016 polls.

“A motion to quash the case against de Lima and question jurisdiction of a lower court in suburban Muntinlupa on her case, were filed, resolutions of which would take days,” said her lawyer Bonifacio Tacardon, adding they will raise the same issue in the Supreme Court.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre alleged the government had “thwarted plans” of pro-De Lima factions to offer P100 million (Dh8.3 million) to eight convicted international and local drug lords to officially recant their testimonies against De Lima — on February 25 — before the 31st anniversary of the people-backed military mutiny that ousted former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.”

“The retraction of testimonies would be used by people supporting De Lima to join another people-power to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. If the revolution wins, all high profile inmates who recanted their testimonies will be released from prison: that was promised to them,” said Aguirre in a TV interview. Their earlier testimonies at the senate nailed de Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal narcotics trade.

After emerging from the Senate where she was arrested at eight Friday morning, De Lima said, “I have the honour to be imprisoned for something I’m fighting for [questioning alleged human rights violation of President Duterte]. I am innocent. There is no truth to the lies I am charged with — that I benefited from illegal drug trade. The truth will come out at the right time.”

Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party that was once led by former President Aquino, said, “The LP is not involved in any bribe-giving of witnesses. This is ridiculous.”

“Sen. De Lima has accepted her current situation. She has realised that this is a process that she has to go through. She’s OK, she’s holding up and well, she’s a very courageous woman and very strong-willed. We’re here to lend our moral support for her,” said Pangilinan.

Government’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo also said, “She is now given the opportunity to refute any and all allegations and/or evidence to be presented by the prosecution against her.”

But former whistle blower Sandra Cam called De Lima a coward and held a protest rally in front of the Senate when De Lima went there to hide and evade arrest late Thursday.

While in hiding at the Senate, De Lima confessed, “I feel less safe if arrested in the evening. I will stay here in the Senate and wait for the sun to rise.” Arresting officers arrived at the office of the Senate Sargeant- at-Arms at 11 Thursday evening,

At the time, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno agreed that De Lima should be arrested at eight Friday morning.

De Lima was the highest official ever indicted for alleged involvement in illegal drug trade, Duterte said, adding that lawmakers, local government officials, and top ranking policemen are protecting international and local drug lords.

De Lima has led local and international rights groups in criticising Duterte’s campaign against illegal drug trade which has killed more than 7,700 since July. Because of irregularities, Duterte barred the police from the campaign. The police admitted responsibility for 2,500 deaths, and blamed drug syndicates for the rest of the fatalities.

Illegal drug trade has reached $4.8 billion a year in the Philippines in 2013, authorities said. </s> On her first night in detention in Camp Crame, Senator Leila de Lima was visited by PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to assure her of her safety inside the police headquarters.

Fresh from his trip to Kalinga to visit relatives of policemen killed in an operation, Dela Rosa dropped by De Lima’s cell at the PNP Custodial Center on Friday night.

“She welcomed me and I talked to her. I told her, if security is your problem, you’re very secure here. You have nothing to worry about. You’re very safe here,” Dela Rosa told a press conference in Camp Crame Monday morning.

Dela Rosa said the senator, with whom he once had a clash during a Senate inquiry on rampant drug killings, was “very relaxed.”

“Tinanong ko pa nga kung OK lang sa kanya ‘yung bagong pintura na wall kasi may asthma siya. Sabi niya, “Kayang-kaya naman. Walang problema,” he said.

It was not clear if De Lima and Dela Rosa discussed why the police tried to arrest her on Thursday night despite her a public statement that she would surrender on Friday morning.

De Lima slammed Dela Rosa’s order to serve the warrant on the day the court issued it despite the agreement between Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueño to allow De Lima to spend the night at the Senate.

De Lima said she did not want to be arrested at night for security concerns.

She was brought to the detention facility on Friday afternoon following her arrest at the Senate over illegal drug charges.

Friends of De Lima expressed concern over her security while she was put under police custody, citing the October killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo by rogue cops inside Crame.

De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party member Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan questioned the capability of the PNP to secure detainees when it allowed Jee’s killing to happen inside the heavily-guarded camp.

But Dela Rosa said it’s normal for them to worry about the senator’s safety.

“But as far as the PNP is concerned, we make sure na safe na safe si Senator De Lima sa aming custodial center,” he said.

Aside from Dela Rosa, Vice President Leni Robredo also visited her partymate at the PNP Custodial Center, according to PNP’s Headquarters Support Service director Chief Supt. Philip Phillipps.

Phillipps said Robredo visited at about 7 p.m. Friday. It lasted for less than an hour. CBB/rga </s> Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Leila de Lima is ready to face the charges and go to jail in case the Justice Department releases on Monday its resolution on cases of drug trafficking filed against her.

"I've been preparing for a worst case scenario kasi katuparan lang po 'yan ng matagal nang inuutos ng Pangulo. Di ba matagal na niyang sinasabi that he wants me locked up in jail," she said on Monday, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte. [Translation: I've been preparing for a worst case scenario because it's long been ordered by the President. Hasn't he said for the longest time that he wants me locked up in jail?]

Duterte has accused De Lima of corruption during her term as Justice Secretary under former President Benigno Aquino III.

Consolidated cases of drug trafficking were filed against De Lima by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), former National Bureau of Investigation deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, the National Bureau of Investigation, and convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian.

Another case filed against De Lima is in connection with Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa's drug operations.

The cases stemmed from allegations that De Lima abetted the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison and received huge payouts from convicted drug lords for them to continue their trade and to fund her senatorial campaign.

Related: Self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa: I gave ₱8M to De Lima's campaign; senator denies allegation

Legal case vs. Aguirre for "perks" given to inmates

De Lima said her legal team is firming up possible cases that she will file against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, including subornation of perjury and tampering with witnesses. Subornation of perjury refers to inducing another person to lie while under oath.

She said these are illegal acts as a Justice Secretary should recuse themselves from getting involved with witnesses. She added Aguirre is unfit for his position because he is not behaving judiciously.

It was De Lima who divulged last week a memorandum dated December 15, 2016 that showed Aguirre was aware of the "lavish lifestyles" and special privileges allowed to high-profile inmates such as the use of cell phones, smart television sets, air conditioning units, and Internet.

"Hindi naman ho nila dine-deny yung confidential memo na yan. Kung sinasabi nila na hindi totoo yung nakalagay dun, bakit in the first place finorward ni BuCor Director General Delos Santos iyung confidential memo na yan to the Secretary of Justice, Secretary Aguirre," De Lima said.

[Translation: They aren't denying that confidential memo. If they claim that the contents (of the memo) are false, why did the BuCor director general De Los Santos forward the confidential memo to the Secretary of Justice."]

Last Friday, Aguirre denied receiving such a memorandum.

Related: Confidential memo claims Aguirre knew high-profile inmates' 'lavish' lifestyle

The lady senator also said she has information that some Bureau of Corrections officers are being pressured to change the contents of the memo.

"Ang balita ko nga pinepressure nila yung legal officer ng BuCor para baguhin ang laman ng confidential memo na yan," she said. [Translation: I heard that they are pressuring the legal officer of the BuCor to revise the contents of that confidential memo.] </s> MANILA (UPDATED) - Anti-crime watchdogs and a lawyer on Wednesday filed impeachment complaints against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for supposed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

In their complaint filed before the House of Representatives, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution (VCPI) accused Sereno of releasing administrative orders without the approval of the Supreme Court en banc.

These include the creation of a new judiciary decentralized office and the re-opening of the Regional Court Administrative Office in Western Visayas, according to the complaint.

They also accused 57-year-old Sereno of approving the allegedly irregular appointment of several officials, and using SC funds for the travel allowances of her staff.



Sereno also failed to fill the year-long vacancies for a deputy clerk of court, a chief attorney and 2 assistant court administrators, the complainants said.

The Chief Justice has not received a copy of the complaint, Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said.

The raps against Sereno however will not be considered as a verified impeachment complaint pending the endorsement of a congressman, according to the House Secretary General.

Sereno's predecessor, Renato Corona, was impeached and ousted in 2012 on allegations he misdeclared his wealth.

Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, the other complainant, meanwhile said he met with congressmen he refused to name and gave them copies of his complaint and the attached documentary evidence.

Pressed for more details, Gadon said, “Marami-rami rin sila nag-closed door meeting kami, mga 5 sila."

"Sinabi lang sa akin kung matatapos ang pirmahan, baka next week," he said. "Kanina kasi, di nila maharap. May hearing kanina tungkol doon kay (BIR) Commissioner (Nicanor) Faeldon, hindi agad nila naharap, hindi nila agad nakita.”

Gadon claimed that the congressmen he met are looking at having the signatures of some 10 to 20 congressmen when it is filed.

He also said he met with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier but declined to give details. Alvarez previously expressed interest in impeaching Sereno.

VACC chair Dante Jimenez, on the other hand, said lawmakers should look at the merits of their complaint. "Let us give them the benefit of the doubt. Whether they endorse it or not, I don't care but of course look at it on the merits.”

Former Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Eligio Mallari, one of the co-complainants of VACC, said he expects "an endorsement from a minimum of 1/3 of the House of Representatives."

Their legal counsel, Manuelito Luna, said they have enough proof to substantiate their allegations.

The Gadon complaint alleges that Sereno failed to truthfully disclose her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth or SALN—the same allegation that got Corona ousted from office.

He also accused Sereno of alleged falsification of Supreme Court documents; delayed action on the petitions for retirement benefits of justices, judges and the surviving spouses of deceased justices and judges; alleged manipulation and delay in a resolution on the request of the Secretary of Justice to transfer the Maute cases outside of Mindanao; alleged manipulation of the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council; among others.

Gadon also accused Sereno of corruption over alleged use of public funds by ordering the purchase of a new vehicle amounting to more than P5 million; alleged use of public funds to stay in hotels when attending local and foreign conferences; flying on business or first class with her staff and security; and bringing a huge entourage of lawyers in her official foreign trips.

Among the incidents he cited for other high crimes include alleged obstruction of justice by ordering Muntinlupa judges not to issue warrants of arrest against Senator Leila M. De Lima; alleged failure to report her attorney’s fees and pay the appropriate taxes; alleged embellishment of her personal data sheet. - with reports from Robert Mano and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News </s> In an unusual break from their word war, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II agrees with Senator Leila de Lima's views at a Senate inquiry

Senator Leila de Lima might just be counting down the days until her supposed impending arrest but Senator Panfilo Lacson made a light moment out of it at a Senate inquiry days after drug charges were filed against the former justice chief.

During the 2nd hearing into the murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, Lacson informed De Lima, who was still questioning the resource person, that he would have to suspend the hearing soon to attend another committee hearing.

“But you can consume the remaining time because you have very good points that you’re pursuing," he said, before ribbing De Lima. "Bilin ko lang (My only advice is), don’t get jailed. We’ll miss you.”

De Lima replied with a hearty laugh and said, “Thank you.”

Like De Lima, Lacson knows what it's like to be the nemesis of a sitting president. Lacson exposed alleged government corruption during the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and even implicated her husband, Mike Arroyo, in alleged anomalous government deals.

During the Arroyo administration, Lacson faced arrest for the double murder of PR man Bubby Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito. He fled the country to escape political persecution, and only returned when Benigno Aquino III won the presidency. The charges against him were eventually dismissed. (READ: SC dismisses case against Lacson with finality)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, a known De Lima critic, was also present in the hearing.

Lacson introduced him as “the best friend” of the lady senator.

In an unusual break from his criticisms, Aguirre openly agreed to at least two views and statements of De Lima at the hearing.

First, Aguirre said he agreed with De Lima that the “ransom” was only an "afterthought."

Lacson said in jest: "That for once?"

To which Aguirre replied, “Yes. I agree with Senator Leila de Lima that talagang parang (it's really like) kidnapping here is only an afterthought.”

Lacson also teased Aguirre the second time he agreed with the senator – this time on the legality of the President’s authority to appoint relieved officials.

“That’s twice already,” Lacson said with a smile.

Lacson was not always friendly with De Lima. When he was still in hiding in 2011, Lacson spoke against then Justice Secretary De Lima for her "ill-advised opinion" ordering his manhunt even after the Court of Appeals had already nullified the warrant for his arrest.

In August 2012, however, Lacson initiated a peace offering to De Lima – a birthday greeting via SMS. He later said he understood De Lima's previous actions as just part of her job.

Will De Lima ever have the same conclusion regarding Aguirre? – Rappler.com </s> THE filing of charges against former president Benigno Aquino 3rd will put “closure” on his alleged culpability in the deaths of 44 police commandos in the hands of Muslim rebels in Maguindanao in January 2015, according to Sen. Grace Poe on Saturday.

Poe issued the statement when asked about the decision of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to file graft charges against the former chief executive for the Mamasapano incident.

In 2015, Poe, then head of the committee on public order that investigated the killings in Mamasapano later wrote in her report that Aquino was “ultimately liable” for the death of the men from the Special Action Force (SAF).

Of the charges by the Ombudsman, Poe said: “President Noynoy was not given the chance to explain himself before the Senate.”

“Now that there is already a case like this, he’ll now have the opportunity to defend himself,” Poe said in an interview in Iloilo City where she spoke before members of the Philippine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI).

“We’ll now see that this will serve as an opportunity to have a closure to Mamasapano (tragedy). Until now, the affected (families of the) victims still don’t know who were charged in court,” she said.

Poe added, “And if you believe that you have not done anything wrong, you should defend yourself.”

The SAF were sent to Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015 to execute “Oplan Exodus”, which was aimed at arresting Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir and Filipino bomb-maker Basit Usman.

The SAF commandos, however, were engaged in a firefight

 by Muslim supporters and sympathizers of the terrorists, resulting in the death of 44 from the elite troops.

An investigation into the incident revealed that Aquino had put then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima at the helm of “Oplan Exodus”.

At that time, Purisima was serving suspension pending results of an investigation into his involvement in an alleged anomalous courier service contract.

Purisima and 10 other police officers were eventually dismissed from service by the Ombudsman after they were found administratively guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority. The officials were forfeited their retirement benefits and barred from being reemployed in government.

Purisima is awaiting trial for the same case. BERNADETTE TAMAYO </s> In this Feb. 13, 2017 photo, Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima takes her seat during a session in the Philippine Senate in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. Philippine justice secretary said Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, criminal charges have been filed against the opposition senator allegedly receiving money from detained drug lords in a move that can lead to the arrest of one of the president's most vocal critics.

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The accused include PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Edilberto Leonardo, Royina Garma, House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Interior secretary Ismael Sueno, Sonny Buenaventura, Solicitor General Jose Calida, Dante Gierran, Senator Richard J. Gordon, and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.