Opinion: Duterte Pre-Trial Hearing on September; Appointment of Filipino Bishop May Help Improve EU-RP Relations By Manuel Caballero

ON MY WATCH

By MANUEL L. CABALLERO

NOTHING MUCH TO WRITE NOW, BUT WAIT FOR SEPT. ICC HEARING ON CONFIRMATION OF DUTERTE MURDER CHARGES; MEANWHILE , MR. DUTERTE REMAINS DETAINED; APPOINTMENT OF FILIPINO BISHOP TO EUROPEAN UNION (EU) MAY HELP IMPROVE EU-RP RELATIONS WORSENED DURING DUTERTE YEARS

We view the claim by the Duterte camp that the ex-president's valid and legimate arrest  and flight to the ICC offices in The Hague pursuant to an ICC arrest warrant was "kidnapping" as wrong. We believe it is a  diversionary tactic to lessen the public discussion of  murder, the principal charge against Mr. Duterte.

As we have noted in the ICC Warrant, the charge of crimes against  humanity vs. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte is centered on 43 murders that happened in Davao and in other parts of the PH.

The Duterte arrest and subsequent action by the ICC to place the PH ex-president under its custody and the conduct of an initial hearing are obvious manifestations that ICC has recognized the Duterte arrest as valid.

Assuming my observations are correct, therefore, the only issue for the Duterte camp is how to defend Mr. Duterte from the charge of murder of 43 individuals. To us, any other issue brought up by the Duterte supporters is impertinent to the case.

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We see the appointment of Boholano Bishop Bernardito Auza by Pope Francis as Papal Nuncio to the European Community (EU) as helpful to improve the RP-EU relations. 

It may be recalled that during the height of then Pres. Duterte's drug war, EU criticized Duterte's supposed violations of human rights and extra judicial killings that were reported happening around the PH. Duterte got angry. He warned EU not to interfere in PH domestic affairs. He also said he could send home the ambassadors of EU countries in 24 hours.

Even if Archbishop Auza's primary role is religious in nature, he will have a chance to meet with high EU officials. With Duterte's arrest by ICC, EU should be feeling vindicated. As Vatican's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations,  Bishop Auza is a top diplomat and friend. His Filipino friends in NY and NJ wish him the best in his new assignment.

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I'd like to greet my good friends Thilo Herda and Cindy Herda of Texas, Happy and Blessed 50th Wedding Anniversary. 

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I also take this chance to greet my apo Aventuro Manuel of California Happy 3rd Birthday on March 25th. God bless my handsome dear.

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