THE Philippine Government is yet to discuss the possibility of reviving its membership to the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is currently investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte over his bloody drug war.
In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said there is no discussion yet about the Philippines rejoining the ICC.
“Iyong huli po nating nakausap ang Pangulo (President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., tinanong po natin iyan nang personal at siya’y ngumiti lamang at sasabihin ko daw dapat na wala pa talagang napag-uusapan patungkol doon,” she said.
(The last time we spoke with the President (President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.), we personally asked him about it. He simply smiled and told me to say that nothing has been discussed regarding the matter yet.)
On the orders of Duterte, the Philippine government withdrew its membership to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, in 2018. The withdrawal was approved in 2019.
Duterte made the decision after the ICC launched an investigation on his bloody drug war, which resulted in the killing of thousands of alleged drug personalities.
On March 11, Duterte was arrested following the order of the ICC amid its probe.
He was immediately transported to The Hague in the Netherlands at the expense of the Philippine Government.
Marcos earlier maintained that Duterte’s arrest is part of the country’s commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), which was tapped by the ICC to effect the arrest warrant.
The administration maintained that the ICC no longer had jurisdiction over the country. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)