PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is now studying the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), four years after the Philippines formally cut ties with the international tribunal.
“There is also a question: Should we return under the fold of the ICC? So, that’s again under study. So, we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are,” President Marcos told reporters on Friday.
President Marcos made the remarks when asked for his reaction to a resolution filed by some lawmakers, asking for the government’s cooperation on ICC’s probe on the alleged abuses of the previous administration.
The Philippines formally cut its ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, a year after the country formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
While there are no concrete actions yet on the possibility of rejoining with the ICC, President Marcos reiterated that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction to conduct its investigation in the Philippines.
President Marcos emphasized that the judicial system of the Philippines is functioning, and that it can handle cases.
“Hindi naman siguro tama na ang mga tiga-labas, mga dayuhan ang magsasabi sa atin kung sino iimbestigahan ng pulis natin, sino aarestuhin ng pulis natin, sinong ikukulong ng pulis natin. Hindi naman siguro tama ‘yun,” President Marcos said.
“Dapat Pilipino lang ang gumagawa niyan. May pulis naman tayo. May NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] naman tayo. May DOJ [Department of Justice] tayo. Kaya nila ‘yang trabahong ‘yan. And that’s really where the conflict is,” he added.
Some members of the House of Representatives have called on the government agencies to assist the ICC conduct its investigation into the alleged war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
