My two cents’ worth on BBMs’ memory

By Herbert Vego

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was obviously in a cover-up mood when he said he could not support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its decision to move forward with its investigation into the drug-war killings under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The Philippines is a sovereign nation,” he said, “and we are not colonies anymore of these former imperialists.”

Alas, if his memory serves him right, he could have recalled that, not too long ago, he had pushed for our ICC membership.  Anyway, let us refresh his memory.

He could not have been talking from the heart when he aped Duterte’s argument that the ICC has no more jurisdiction over human rights violations in our country just because the former President (Duterte) had cancelled our membership there in March 2018.

To be candid about it, Marcos lied to appease his mentor and predecessor who fears having to account for extra-judicial killings committed by the police and the military during Duterte’s six-year term.

Batu-bato sa langit, si Bato ay huwag sanang magalit.

If he truly feels that Duterte had no hand in those thousands of EJKs, shouldn’t Bongbong have welcomed the probe that the Justice Department has failed to do?

Ironically, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has languished in jail for six years for alleged collusion with drug lords. But we know for a fact that it was De Lima who had exposed the EJKs committed by the “Davao boys,” thus earning Duterte’s ire.

No less than our Supreme Court – in a 15-0 decision announced in March 2021 – has ruled that the Philippines is still obliged to cooperate in criminal proceedings of the International Criminal Court even if it has withdrawn from the ICC.

Citing Article 27 of the Rome Statute, the Supreme Court said, “Withdrawing from the Rome Statute does not discharge a state party from the obligations it has incurred as a member.”

Marcos could not hide his ignorance by citing “our sovereignty” and “foreign intrusion” behind his anti-ICC stand because, to quote Article II, Sec. 1 of the Constitution, “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.”

We the Filipinos are the “sovereign” people, not Duterte, who cry for justice for their fallen families, neighbors and friends.

Has President Marcos forgotten that he was one of the 17 Philippine senators who, during the time of the late President Noynoy Aquino, voted for the ratification of the Philippine membership to the ICC in February 2011?

While a few other senators abstained, the then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile cast the only negative vote.

Some of those senators are back in the Senate, including Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada.

Jinggoy, like Marcos, has reversed his position on ICC based on the pretext that the country has withdrawn from the tribunal.

Under the treaty, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice for the core crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or crimes of aggression.

The late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago – sponsor of the Senate Resolution No. 546 that affirmed our ICC membership – wrote, “By concurring in the ratification of the Rome Statute, the Philippines will help the Court to end the culture of impunity, and affirm our position as a leading human rights advocate in Asia.”

Naku, Bongbong, talaga bang nakalimutan mo that you were one of the senators who signed that resolution?

-oOo-

NO FINAL WORD YET ON CENECO-MORE JOINT VENTURE

TO quote a news report by our Negros Occidental bureau chief Dolly Yasa last Wednesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson “maintains an open mind on the proposed joint venture agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and MORE Power,” depending on whether it could provide a more stable power at affordable rates.

She reiterated the stand of Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez on supporting the venture “if they can bring down power cost, stop brownouts and use green energy.”

At the moment, Iloilo City-based MORE Power charges P13 per kWh while Ceneco charges P15.

Benitez recalled that Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas had expressed satisfaction over MORE Power’s performance.

We had hoped to make a final report on the proposed merger.  However, it’s understandable that MORE President Roel Castro would rather say nothing yet, since he has yet to make a presentation before the Ceneco board.

Ceneco has a new acting general manager, Arnel Lapore, who used to be its president.

A joint venture would boost the economies of scale. Ceneco has around 200,000 customers across Bacolod City, Murcia, Pulupandan, Talisay, Silay and Bago, while MORE has 90,000 in Iloilo City.

One of Ceneco’s major problems is a high system’s loss of 10.30%. The system’s loss refers to power wasted in transit or in pilferage.  Its cost is charged to both the utility and the customers.

On the other hand, MORE Power’s systems loss swings between 6% and 9%.