God knows Hudas not pay: The betrayal and kidnapping of Rodrigo Duterte

THE BROADER VIEW

- HARRY ROQUE

The saddest thing about betrayal, as they say, is that it never comes from your enemies. But there will be a day of reckoning, for the worst places in hell are reserved for traitors.

The betrayal and kidnapping of Rodrigo Duterte is now an international issue with millions of Filipinos all around the world expressing their disgust through protest rallies. The rushed execution of PRRD's unlawful arrest last March 11 —a betrayal from his own government — came like a thief in the night. President Duterte was an easy target because Marcos Jr., together with his cabal, was very much willing to sell the sovereignty of the Philippines for the sake of obliterating the Dutertes in the political landscape.

As a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) roster of counsels since 2004, I have consistently argued that the ICC lost its authority to probe or prosecute individuals involved in the war on drugs campaign.

The Philippines deposited a notice of withdrawal on March 17, 2018. It became official on March 17, 2019. The Court Prosecutor failed to trigger the Court's jurisdiction before our withdrawal became effective on March 17, 2019.

As contended by two Appellate Chamber judges, the Prosecutor can no longer open a preliminary investigation once the State's withdrawal officially took effect.

It was only in 2021, or two years after we officially left the Court, that the PTC approved the commencement of a preliminary investigation.