‘No arguments over ICC...

PAGE A1 of it is about judicial reform, correction reform, corrections in our reforms on prosecution, reforms on bail, and all the improvements we are making, they seemed surprised so they didn’t argue with us. They are not argumentative actually,” he added.

While such was the case, Remulla said the parliamentarians also raised key issues in the country including the detention of former senator Leila de Lima and fake news.

The justice secretary did not disclose the particulars of the conversation on De Lima, but he said he told the parliamentarians that her camp had been advised that they could file a habeas corpus petition for her provisional liberty.

On fake news, Remulla said the government will not be weaponizing cyberlibel laws but the DOJ intends to address the problem.

Meanwhile, Remulla said he would be flying to Geneva, Switzerland on Monday for the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 52nd regular session, where he would be speaking about prison reform.

After the meeting, Czarnecki of the conservatives and reformists was asked for a short statement as he walked to their coach and told reporters “we have (our) fingers crossed for your country.”

On several occasions, the European Parliament expressed its concerns about wrongful deaths, the detention of former senator De Lima now on its sixth year, and other human rights issues that hound the Philippine government. Remulla has been vocal about not letting the ICC investigate on Philippine soil the Duterte administration’s alleged crimes against humanity, viewing the investigation as an insult and an act of attempting to “take over” the country’s justice system. He the state Capitol here, JonesSawyer told the crowd that he had grown up in a violent environment. I realized at some point that I was behaving in the same way.”

California state Assembly members Blanca Rubio, D-San Gabriel Valley, and Robert Rivas, who will serve as Assembly Speaker beginning June 30, also spoke at the rally. The morning event focused on teen dating violence: several youth advocacy groups also spoke about the need to expand prevention services.

“We need to listen to those young voices behind me,” said Rivas, who has a seven-year-old daughter. “We need to teach our youth how to recognize violent relationships and to seek out services. Our young people cannot be left behind.”

Domestic violence survivor

Rubio said she is the sister of a domestic violence survivor and noted that in her youth, domestic violence was not spoken about at home or in the classroom. “We were not equipped to recognize abuse.”

The former teacher is the mother of two teens. “I don’t have the tools to respond to my children if they are experiencing dating violence. I would struggle with what to say. We need tools for parents and for the health and safety of our children.”

Several teens who spoke at the rally also spoke at an Ethnic Media Services briefing Feb. 24.

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)