President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (L) and Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri | PHOTOS: Official facebook page of Bongbong Marcos and Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Only President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and not the Senate, can decide whether or not the Philippines should rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday.
“It is the decision of the President of the Republic being the Chief foreign policy maker of our country. He alone makes that decision and everything else is just noise on whether we should join or not,” said Zubiri in a statement.
The Senate leader refused to further comment on the matter, adding that it would be better to just wait for President Marcos’ decision on the matter.
Zubiri’s statement was issued after Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution urging Malacañang to cooperate with the ICC and accommodate the tribunal’s bid to start its investigation on the bloody war on drugs that transpired during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Apart from Zubiri, Senator Imee Marcos likewise reacted to Hontiveros’ measure.
“So, they really want trouble? Well, [former] President Rodrigo Duterte has said: Bring it on,” Sen. Marcos told reporters in a text message.
Similar to what Zubiri noted, Sen. Marcos said the decision whether to cooperate with the ICC or not is the discretion of the Executive department.
“[M]y brother, the President of the Philippines, has already made it clear that the ICC has no jurisdiction to conduct the probe. I share that view,” she said.
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he already expected such a move from Hontiveros.
“I don’t think it will gain traction with the President’s stand not to allow the ICC to conduct their investigation in our jurisdiction,” said Dela Rosa in a separate statement.
Dela Rosa was the chief implementer of former President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and is among those mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint before the ICC.
President Marcos previously revealed that the Philippine government is studying a possible return under the fold of the ICC.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have likewise begun deliberating proposals for government cooperation with the ICC.
RELATED STORIES
‘I should be ready for any eventuality’: Bato dela Rosa on possible return of PH to ICC