Marcos maintains stance against ICC reentry, draws De Lima criticism
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:05 p.m.) — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. still has no plans to have the Philippines rejoin the Rome Statute, which would restore the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction over the country, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (New York time), March 9, Castro told reporters that the Philippines won't be rejoining the ICC anytime soon.
"Hindi nagbabago 'yung stance ng pangulo. Hindi pa rin po tayo magrerejoin sa ICC (The president's stance has not changed. We will still not rejoin the ICC)," she said, noting that Marcos spared the details for his reason not to rejoin.
Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Part-list) criticized Marcos' position in a statement on Tuesday, March 10 (Manila time), saying it "sends the wrong signal" to Filipinos and the global community.
"We need safeguards, especially when domestic institutions fail to function as guarantors of accountability. We can never tell what might happen in the future, we might have another tyrant or another mass killer as a president," De Lima told Philstar.com.
She said being a member of the Rome Statute "would assure Filipinos" that there would be a court of last resort should the domestic justice system fail to investigate and hold alleged criminals and mass murderers accountable.
De Lima added that keeping the Philippines outside the ICC could deepen doubts among Filipinos about the country's commitment to justice and the government's "political and moral resolve" to pursue and prosecute perpetrators of international crimes.
"Ano pa nga bang hinihintay ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.? Anong pumipigil sa kanya na bumalik ang Pilipinas bilang miyembro ng ICC?" she said. (What else is President Marcos Jr. waiting for? What is stopping him from bringing the Philippines back as a member of the ICC?)
The minority lawmaker also questioned whether Marcos shares the same rationale as former President Rodrigo Duterte in keeping the country outside the ICC's jurisdiction.
"Malinaw naman na umiiwas sa pananagutan si Rodrigo Duterte — ang mastermind ng extrajudicial killings sa bansa sa panahon ng kanyang rehimen — kaya winithdraw niya ang Pilipinas bilang member ng ICC," she said.
"Pareho ba si Marcos Jr. ng pag-iisip o pananaw kay Rodrigo Duterte?" De Lima added.
(It is clear that Rodrigo Duterte — the mastermind behind the extrajudicial killings in the country during his administration — is avoiding accountability, which is why he withdrew the Philippines from the ICC. Does Marcos Jr. share the same thinking or perspective as Rodrigo Duterte?)
The Philippines exited the Rome Statute during Duterte's presidency. Its withdrawal from the ICC took effect on March 17, 2019, a year after the government submitted its formal notice.
The country ratified the treaty in August 2011, which entered into force in November 2011, giving the ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019.
The ICC is pursuing charges of crimes against humanity, specifically three counts of murder and attempted murder, against Duterte for alleged acts committed when the court had jurisdiction over the Philippines.
The cases cover his period as Davao City mayor and a segment of his presidential drug war marked by thousands of reported extrajudicial killings.
His confirmation of charges hearing concluded on February 27, giving the Pre-Trial Chamber I judges 60 days to decide on whether Duterte's case would proceed to trial.
Duterte's defense is still awaiting a ruling from the ICC Appeals Chamber on its appeal of Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision affirming the court’s jurisdiction over the case.
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