‘UNDER STUDY’ | Marcos says Philippines’ possible return to ICC still being weighed

November 24, 2023 , 03:00 PM

(November 24, 2023) – The administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has seemingly not closed its doors on the possibility of the Philippines returning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) four years after the country withdrew from the Rome Statute.

Marcos was asked to comment on the resolutions filed in the House of Representatives that urged him to cooperate with the ICC in its probe into the brutal war on drugs of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Marcos, the resolutions merely express the sense of the lower chamber on the issue. He noted that there are “some problems with jurisdiction and sovereignty” that must be addressed.

“Medyo fundamental ang question na ganun,” said Marcos in a chance interview in Taguig. “There is also a question: Should we return under the fold of the ICC? That is again under study. So, we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are.”

Pinag-aaralan aniya ng pamahalaan kung dapat bang bumalik ang Pilipinas sa International Criminal Court (ICC), ayon kay Pres. Bongbong Marcos. pic.twitter.com/dZzJrFiwGS

— News5 (@News5PH) November 24, 2023

But Marcos maintained that it is not right for foreigners to intrude into the matters of the country when the Philippines has its justice system.

“Hindi naman siguro tama na ang mga taga-labas, mga dayuhan ang magsasabi sa atin kung sino ang iimbestigahan ng pulis natin, sino ang aarestuhin ng pulis natin, sinong ikukulong ng pulis natin. Dapat Pilipino ang gumagawa niyan,” said Marcos.

In 2019, Duterte’s order for the Philippines to withdraw from the Rome Statute took effect. But the ICC can still exercise jurisdiction over the alleged crimes committed during the time that the country was a member-state from 2011 to 2019, as stipulated in the treaty.

Marcos stressed that his government will no longer deal with the ICC after the dismissal of its deferral request earlier this year.

Despite this, several lawmakers filed resolutions calling on his administration to work with the ICC. The resolutions authored by the Makabayan bloc, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, and the tandem of Manila Rep. Benny Abante and 1-Rider Rep. Ramon Gutierrez are pending.

Human rights organizations were quick to register their support.

“These resolutions are expressions of widespread public sentiment against the rampant killings and other human rights violations related to the war on drugs and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators and their highly placed enablers,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio urged lawmakers to respect the stand of Marcos against the ICC’s involvement in the country’s matters.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bato Dela Rosa said Marcos, as the chief architect of foreign policy, has the discretion to study the possibility of the Philippines’ return to the ICC. Dela Rosa was the main implementer of Duterte’s bloody war on drugs when he was the chief of the Philippine National Police.

“Hindi lang naman ako ang nasu-surprise. Everybody na nakarinig ng kanyang statement ay talagang masu-surprise kung papapasukin (ang ICC) pero kung study lang, it does not cause alarm to us,” said Dela Rosa.

‘IT DOES NOT CAUSE ALARM TO US’

Ito ang naging sagot ni Sen. Bato dela Rosa kasunod ng pahayag ni Pres. Bongbong Marcos ukol sa pag-aaral ng pamahalaan kung babalik ba ang Pilipinas sa International Criminal Court (ICC), #News5 | via Marianne Enriquez pic.twitter.com/NHccAtaEZ8

— News5 (@News5PH) November 24, 2023

(PM)

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