Please review laws you passed
It took a professor emeritus of Sociology, Randy David , to resurrect, explain, and remind our legislators, especially the senators, and the general public of the origin and makings of Republic Act No. 9851.
In layman’s terms or common “tao,” RA 9851 “makes prevailing international norms and covenants on international law, genocide, and other crimes against humanity an integral part of Philippine domestic law,” making it a local or domestic law of the land voluntarily, regardless of whether we are members or not of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Violation of human rights is a crime in the Philippines. An added provision was “deferring to the authority of an international tribunal already investigating or prosecuting.” The law stands unless repealed by Congress.
David mentioned the three senators identified with RA 9851, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, and Francis Escudero, who are protesting the ICC arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the “future” arrest of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who appear to have memory loss since they were signers of that law. In addition, the rest of Congress, especially the senators who are “protecting” Dela Rosa, must be aware of this obscure and almost forgotten law. In any law, harboring a “fugitive“ is a crime. How can our legislators be criminals at the same time? As legislators, they must know the laws.
There are three branches in our government, the executive, which governs and enforces the laws; legislative or Congress, which legislates laws; and judicial, which evaluates the laws. Regarding Congress, representatives and senators, since they make our laws, should be educated or if not educated, try to study or learn about making and keeping our laws. The electorate must vote for candidates willing to study and know more about our laws and vote not just based on popularity. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
Dear senators, please review laws pertaining to your job.
Ida M. Tiongco,
New York, NY
