PH rejoining ICC not under discussion – Palace

This report is part of Inquirer’s special coverage of Duterte at the ICC. For real-time updates, follow our live coverage of the confirmation hearing.

MANILA, Philippines — There are currently no discussions regarding the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday.

Her statement came after lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc filed a resolution on Monday seeking the country’s return to the ICC to signal to the international community that the Philippines respects human rights and its treaty obligations.

“There is no discussion on plan of re-joining the ICC, as of this date,” Castrol told Inquirer in a Viber message when asked for a reaction on the matter.

READ: Makabayan bloc solons seek PH’s return to ICC

House Resolution (HR) No. 809, filed by ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co, urged the Philippine government to rejoin the ICC and sign the Rome Statute again.

The Makabayan lawmakers said that this move would send a “clear and strong message that the Philippines honors its international obligations, respects the sanctity of life, and is  committed to breaking the cycle of impunity and state violence.”

“Reengagement with the ICC would strengthen the country’s global reputation as a rights-respecting democracy, restore international confidence in the Philippines’ legal system and bolster partnerships rooted in justice, good governance, and the rule of law,” the Makabayan bloc said in HR No. 809.

“The House of Representatives, as the duly elected, constitutional voice of the Filipino people, is duty-bound to champion justice, truth, and transparency, and to advance the national interest by aligning the country with international norms of human rights protection,” it added.

READ: Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC case: Journey from Malacañang to The Hague

In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

According to Duterte, a reason for the withdrawal was the “baseless, unprecedented, and outrageous attacks on my person as against my administration, engineered by the officials of the United Nations, as well as the attempt by the [ICC] special prosecutor to place my person within the jurisdiction of the [ICC].” /dl