From “Never Again” to “Ideally Here”: How Bam Aquino Defended the Impunity Machine

Zero Convictions, Thousands Dead: Bam Aquino’s Faith in Local Justice Is the Ultimate Impunity Enabler

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 21, 2028

BEHOLD, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV—the Liberal Party’s eternal boy scout, still clinging to “institutional faith” like it’s a lifesaver in a sea of blood. On February 17, 2026, he declared that cases involving extrajudicial killings (EJKs) “should ideally be tried here in the Philippines” because “this is where the victims are.” Touching. Also completely disconnected from the grim reality of the past decade.

Translation: Bam wants the thousands of drug war victims to finally see justice… in the same broken courts that stood by while they were slaughtered. The same courts where two alleged architects—Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa—sit as his colleagues, controlling budgets and confirming judges. The same courts that have produced exactly zero high-level convictions for systemic murder.

Let’s tear this apart with facts, law, and the contempt it deserves.

***“Same Courts. Same Senators. Same Silence: How ‘Reformist’ Bam Aquino Sells Impunity as Patriotism”***

Dissecting Bam’s “Ideally”—The Emptiest Word in Philippine Politics

“Ideally.” That word is carrying the weight of a thousand excuses. It allows Bam to sound noble while promising nothing.

He claims local trials would be “more meaningful” for victims. Tell that to the families who have waited eight years for a single credible case. Tell that to mothers watching police folders disappear, witnesses vanish, and judges get quiet warnings.

Bam says he respects the International Criminal Court (ICC) process. Respect costs nothing. Action does—and his action points straight back to the same failed system that enabled the killings.

Naive faith in institutions? Political tightrope-walking to avoid angering the Duterte bloc? Or just the comfortable delusion of a reformer who thinks the system can heal itself if we wish hard enough?

The Strongest Case for Local Trials (And Why It Crumbles)

The textbook arguments for Bam’s position sound reasonable:

Sovereignty: The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 2 adopts international law, but judicial power remains primarily with Philippine courts (Article VIII).
Complementarity: Rome Statute Article 17 requires the ICC to defer if a state is genuinely investigating or prosecuting.
Victim access: Witnesses, evidence, and families are here—trials in Filipino, in local courtrooms.

In theory, perfect.

In practice:

Unwilling and unable: Zero high-level convictions. Vanished records. Dead witnesses. A Department of Justice that “reviewed” cases while bodies piled up.
Complementarity weaponized: The ICC exists because states like ours swear “we’ve got this” right until they prove they don’t—or won’t.
Proximity is a double-edged sword: Victims are here. So are the perpetrators, the protectors, and the senators who confirm judges.

The Legal Framework—For Those Still Pretending

1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 2: International law is part of our law.
Article III: Bill of Rights—due process, impartial tribunal. Conveniently ignored when the accused wear Senate pins.
Rome Statute Article 7: Widespread or systematic murder = crime against humanity.
Article 17: ICC acts when domestic proceedings are sham.
Article 127: Withdrawal doesn’t erase jurisdiction for prior crimes.
Republic Act No. 9851: Domesticates crimes against humanity, recognizes complementarity, allows surrender when justice demands.
Republic Act No. 6981: Witness protection—exists on paper, fails in reality.
Supreme Court: Pangilinan v. Cayetano (2021)—withdrawal doesn’t wipe prior obligations.

The law is crystal clear. The will is absent.

Local Inability: The Evidence Is in the Graves

Philippine justice has failed spectacularly:

Police “cleansed” drug war records—folders gone, data erased.
Witnesses intimidated, disappeared, or killed.
Zero convictions at the command level.
Sitting senators as alleged masterminds—conflict of interest doesn’t begin to describe it.
Pattern: Marcos martial law, Davao Death Squad, drug war—impunity perfected.

This isn’t broken. It’s built this way.

Roasting Bam’s Optimism

Bam says local trials would be “more meaningful.”

More meaningful than actual justice?

Which courtroom will protect witnesses when the accused have presidential access?

Which prosecutor will file when careers depend on political survival?

Which judge will convict when appointments come from the top?

“Ideally.” Thousands of families don’t live in ideals. They live in grief and fear.

Who’s Driving This?

Bam Aquino: Reformist veneer over political survival—don’t rock the Senate boat too hard.
Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa: Delay, deflect, forum-shop—anything to stay in a controllable system.
Marcos Jr. administration: Balancing Duterte loyalty with international optics.
ICC Prosecutor: Enforcing precedent and complementarity—no more free passes.
Victims’ families: Just want accountability, anywhere it’s real. Many trust the ICC more because they’ve seen local justice fail.

Likely Outcomes

The ICC will confirm charges and proceed. Manila will protest sovereignty while stalling cooperation.

Domestic prosecutions? Only cosmetic ones to trigger deferral—and the ICC sees through that.

Hybrid tribunal? Possible (see Cambodia’s Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia or Kosovo’s specialist chambers), but requires real political will. Don’t hold your breath.

Most probable: ICC trial (possibly in absentia), strained diplomacy, and continued impunity for the powerful.

Consequences

Winners: The killers who keep their seats and freedom.

Losers: The victims—again. The country’s reputation. The myth of Philippine self-policing.

Calls to Action

Stop the press-release justice.

Demand prosecutions and convictions—not task forces.
Investigate destroyed records and witness killings—now.
Amend RA 9851 for independent special courts with international oversight.
Fully fund and depoliticize RA 6981 witness protection.
Congress: Propose special tribunals with ICC technical support.
Philippines: Want deference? Start genuine cases tomorrow. The ICC is watching.

Concrete Recommendations

Congress: Legislate a Special Tribunal for Crimes Against Humanity under RA 9851, with international judges if needed.
Executive: Appoint an independent special prosecutor. Fully fund witness protection.
Judiciary: Fast-track EJK cases—no more delays.
Civil society and media: Document. Expose. Mobilize. Never forget the dead.

To Bam Aquino: Drop the “ideally.” Victims deserve reality—real courts, real accountability, real justice.

The graves are full. Stop digging.

Until the next body drops and the next press release promises “review,”

— Barok,

still waiting for the system to surprise me. Spoiler: it won’t.