House leaders share the stance of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who recently urged candidates in the May 2025 elections to avoid fueling political divisions over former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During a press conference on Wednesday, Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union, along with Assistant Majority Leaders Jude A. Acidre of Tingog Party-list and Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol Party-list, agreed that Duterte’s arrest on charges of crimes against humanity should not be used as a political tool to gain electoral advantage.
Acidre emphasized: “For once, I would agree with the Senate President. Hindi po ito usapin ng tungkol kay President Duterte, hindi ito usapin ng kampo ng mga Duterte versus kanino. Ito po ay usapin ng krimen na nagawa, hindi ba?”
He added that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are illegal and should not be framed as a political battle.
“Extrajudicial killings (EJKs) will always be illegal. It will always be against the law. ‘Di naman pwedeng ang fight against drugs, kailangan naman mamili. It cannot be a choice between justice and mercy. We have to apply the rule of law. And in this case, we cannot allow personalities to define the narrative, whether it’s pro or against,” Acidre said.
He stressed that the focus should be on the victims of EJKs and their families.
“Sila po dapat ang binibigyan natin ng pansin. Kung sino man ang kailangang managot sa pagpatay sa mga taong ito, sa mga biktima ng EJK, kailangang managot, ano man ang naging position niya sa gobyerno natin.”
Duterte’s case before the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, was filed in 2017. Ortega noted that at the time, none of them were serving in Congress.
“Nag-a-agree talaga tayo diyan [kay Cong Acidre]. Kasi nga, nung ito ay mga kasong nahain, wala pa po kaming lahat dito sa 19th Congress. Nasa kanya kanyang mga buhay pa kami noon. Ako, Konsehal. Si Cong. Jude, nandito pero not as a congressman. Si Jil has been working in the province and practicing law,” Ortega recalled.
He added that accountability is essential in governance.
“So wala talagang…Yung decision na ito sabi ko nga seven years, wala pa kami lahat dito. So talagang parang kailangan nilang tignan maigi. Mahirap kasi pag ano eh, ‘pag gusto mo pabor lahat sayo. Hindi pwedeng pabor lahat sayo, dapat accountable ka for your actions. Hindi naman pwedeng mag-hariharian ka na lang panghabang buhay. Kasi sabi ko nga, hindi natutulog ang hustisya. Bilog ang bola,” Ortega said.
Bongalon also backed Escudero’s appeal, stating that the issue should not be politicized.
“Yes, I totally agree on the statement of Senator Chiz Escudero not because he is my fellow kababayan, a Bicolano lawmaker, but also being a leader of the Senate and as a national figure we want to ask or request to our fellow Filipinos na huwag gawin itong isyu politika,” he said.
Referring to the political rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families, Bongalon stressed that the focus should remain on justice for the victims of EJKs.
“It’s not about politics, it’s not about two families who are quarreling. It’s about justice, it’s about vindication to the victims of EJKs so malayong-malayo po na mahaluan ito ng isyu politika sapagkat ang mithiin natin dito ay mabigyan ng hustisya yung mga biktima ng [EJKs] na kawawa and until now seeking justice for many years because of the bloody implementation of the war on drugs,” he said.
Bongalon urged the public to avoid sensationalizing Duterte’s arrest.
“So huwag gawin sanang isyung politikal at huwag din kung baga ‘wag ng i-sensationalize no, not because the former president was arrested it’s not about him it’s about the victims of the EJKs,” he concluded.
