PBBM vows wider medical care access

and assert the sovereignty of the Republic at all times.”

For Remulla, any indictment of the ICC would only be “political.”

He said if the ICC really wants to hold accountable any individual, then it should pass any evidence to the government since the Philippines has existing domestic mechanisms to deal with the issue and prosecute any offender.

He said the ICC should do its investigation on countries with no existing mechanism to conduct their own probe, adding that Manila has a perfectly working institution to investigate and prosecute criminal offenses.

The ICC is for countries with no existing laws and they are really needed there. It is not meant to interfere in a country such as the Republic of the Philippines that has an existing system,” he said. E arlier, the DOJ said investigation on the drug war-related deaths is ongoing, and that there are 290 cases under different stages of investigation, prosecution, and trial.

In March 2023, the Philippine government asked the ICC-Appeals Chamber to abandon the January 26 decision of the Pre-Trial Chambers (PTC) authorizing the resumption of the investigation on the abuses and deaths related to the anti-illegal drug of the Duterte administration.

T he OSG maintained that the ICC has lost jurisdiction over the country following the withdrawal of its membership in 2019 upon the directive of then President Duterte.

It also asked the ICC to suspend, pending the resolution of its appeal, the implementation of the PTC’s decision that allowed Prosecutor Karim Khan to resume the probe in the Philippine’s bloody anti-illegal drug campaign. However, this was denied by the appeals chamber in a ruling issued on March 28, 2023. The ICC’s decision on the Philippine government’s appeal is scheduled to be announced today (Tuesday).

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R.

Marcos, Jr. vowed on Monday to make medical care more accessible in underserved communities through the capacity building for local government units (LGU) and the construction of new facilities such as the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center (CMSMC).

“ That is why it is a fundamental part of the services that this government will bring to our people.

It is not a privilege to have healthcare,” Marcos said during the site inspection for the CMSMC at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

It is a right and that is how we will approach this problem and that is how we will continue to make our healthcare system better for all Filipinos in whatever capacity that we are able to do,” he added.

C iting the important role played by the healthcare sector during the pandemic, the President said he will prioritize making health services available at the local level through his administration’s Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).

This is part of a larger system of healthcare provision that we are putting together to service our kababayans [citizens] so that they don’t have to wait [or] get very very sick before they go to the big hospitals. We are bringing healthcare down to the people,” the chief executive said.

T he comprehensive HFEP includes establishing the “Botika de Barangay” or barangay pharmacies program, rural and barangay centers, as well as medical special centers such as the CMSMC.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the construction of the CMSMC will cost about P10 billion and is expected to be completed by 2028.

T he medical complex, to be built on a 5.7-hectare property along Prince Balagtas Avenue in Clark Freeport Zone, will include a heart center, lung center, kidney center, and children’s hospital. “ We will establish primary healthcare facilities and specialty centers nationwide,” Marcos said. We will not stop until every Filipino can say they have good access to quality healthcare,” he added.

He noted the important role of the private sector and international funding agencies in assisting the government to upgrade or build more local healthcare services like in the case of CMSMC.

T he project is being built with the cooperation of Pagcor, Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and the Razon-led Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng