Senator Alan Peter Cayetano took to Facebook Live this week to express his frustration over the silence of human rights groups following the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I meant no offense to human rights activists. Nirerespeto ko kayo, but nagdurugo pa rin ang puso ko. Ba’t walang nagsalita sa inyo?” Cayetano said
He pointed out that human rights activists in past decades were known for defending the rights of individuals regardless of their alleged crimes.
“Y’ung mga kilala kong human rights activist noong 80s at 70s, y’ung mga nababasa ko sa Europe, sa US, kahit anong bigat, kahit anong baho ng kriminal, ipaglalaban nila y’ung karapatan niya,” he said.
Cayetano also questioned those who claim that the International Criminal Court (ICC) ensures a fairer judicial process when Duterte’s case was never filed in the Philippines in the first place.
“Sabi nila, mas patas sa ICC. Pero sa ICC, na-aresto na siya, sinakay na siya sa eroplano, ‘tsaka lang siya sasabihan kung ano y’ung kasalanan, sino y’ung witness. He did not have a chance to confront his witnesses. He does not know when he got there kung ano ang kaso, ano y’ung mga evidence. So ang layo [ng proseso] dito sa Pilipinas at doon,” he said.
Cayetano also defended his stance after former Senator Leila de Lima questioned his credibility on human rights issues. He maintained that his position has always been based on fairness and justice.
“During my time, I always made time and made sure that people listened even if opposing ang views natin. Sa pinakamakapangyarihan, sa pinakamaliit — pareho ang karapatan sa human rights. Parehong may karapatan to seek legal remedies, pareho na may due process,” he said.
Cayetano also warned against using due process and human rights as political weapons, stressing that they should be upheld equally for all Filipinos.
“There’s so much confusion. We’re here not to play politics or to blame anyone. We’re here to sort this out,” he said.
“Ano ba ang tamang batas? Ano ba ang tamang proseso? We’re thinking about our future. The future of all Filipinos, not only of your beloved Liberal Party,” he added.
In response to de Lima’s statement that the true test of human rights is how they protect the smallest and most vulnerable members of society, Cayetano agreed in part but insisted that these rights must also extend to those in power.
“Walang ‘last person’ sa Pilipinas kasi para sa lahat iyan. Hindi lang para sa advocates at pseudo-advocates at sa pulitiko. Ang human rights ay para sa lahat,” he said.
