RP to seek Asean support for Miriam ICJ bid

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will campaign hard to get the support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries for the candidature of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

A Philippine diplomat, who asked not to be named, yesterday said Manila would seek the support of participating countries at the Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM), East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Singapore next week.

“We will campaign hard for ICJ,” the diplomat said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo sought the support of other countries including Iran for Santiago’s candidacy to the ICJ.

Santiago was nominated in July last year to the ICJ by the Philippine National Group composed of Supreme Court Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, retired Supreme Court associate justice Florentino Feliciano, then Integrated Bar of the Philippines National President Atty. Jose Vicente Salazar, and University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Dean Alfredo Benipayo.

Her candidature was endorsed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, the Philippine Women Judges Association Inc., the Philippine Association of Law Schools, and the Philippine Association of Law Professors.