PDP, NANAWAGAN SA KORTE SUPREMA NG MABILIS NA PAG-AKSYON SA MOSYON NI SEN. DELA ROSA

“THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) is calling on the Supreme Court (SC), with the deepest of respect, to act expeditiously on the pending cases before it regarding the rights of persons sought to be extradited by international tribunals or foreign jurisdictions.”

Ito ang panawagang inisyu ng PDP sa pamamagitan ni deputy national spokesperson Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, kung saan binigyang-diin niya ang kahalagahan ng paglalagay sa isipan ng umiiral na kaguluhan na muntik nang magresulta sa serious injuries at posibleng pagkawala ng mga buhay. Pinatutungkulan ni Topacio ang kaguluhang naganap sa Senado kamakailan lamang.

“Only by setting down clear-cut rules in situations similar to those that transpired in the Senate may such incidents in the future be fully avoided,” ani Topacio.

Matatandaang si Dela Rosa ay naghain ng motion sa SC, para kuwestiyunin ang bisa ng arrest warrant na inilabas ng International Criminal Court laban sa kanya. Hindi nag-isyu ng Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) ang korte at sa halip ay inatasan ang respondents na magsumite ng komento sa loob ng 72 oras.

Samantala, sinabi ni Topacio na kinondena umano ng partido ang tangka umanong pagsasagawa ng ‘illegal arrest’ ni Dela Rosa, na aniya ay isang ‘sitting legislator and a ranking official of the PDP, on the supposed basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which, according to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) himself is unenforceable unless confirmed by our domestic court in accordance with the safeguards of the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution and applicable laws, including procedural rules recently promulgated by the Supreme Court.”

“Such brazen and high-handed acts… has resulted in tumult, chaos and confusion, not only within the premises of the Upper Chamber, but also in the minds and emotions of many Filipinos who were aghast at seeing the desecration of institutions they hold dear, and the appallingly blatant disrespect for their elected officials,” ayon pa kay Topacio.

Ani Topacio ang lahat ng umabuso sa kapangyarihan at yumurak sa mga naitatag na Constitutional at statutory rights ay dapat na papanagutin at maparusahan upang hindi na maulit ang pagiging arogante sa kapangyarihan.

Bilang pagtatapos sa kanyang pahayag, sinabi ni Topacio na: “We call on everyone, not only the members of PDP, but on all freedom-loving and patriotic Filipinos, to reman ever-vigilant in protecting, by all legal means, our rights and liberties. Truly, eternal vigilance is the price that we have to pay to continue enjoying the freedoms that our heroes and great leaders have worked hard to win, oftentimes at the expense of their very lives.” (JERRY S. TAN)