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ICC exit to cut aid? Other issues may be more important to PH allies, says analyst

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1388771" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippines will have to &quot;wait and see&quot; if its defection from the International Criminal Court would result in a slump in foreign aid, an international law specialist said Sunday, noting that other issues may be more important to Manila&#x27;s allies. </p><p>Manila quit the world&#x27;s only permanent war crimes tribunal after the ICC launched in 2018 a preliminary examination of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s drug crackdown that has killed thousands and drawn international censure. </p><p>The withdrawal could restrict receipt of foreign aid from countries that require the protection of human rights as a condition, warned Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano. </p><p>Lawyer Priya Pillai, however, noted that when it comes to international relations and politics, states &quot;also, unfortunately, make trade-offs in what they see as important and what they see as less significant.&quot; </p><p>&quot;In the Philippine context, given the issues around the South China Sea, given the issues around the ascendancy of China, I suspect that [the] US and some of the other countries may put those on a higher priority than say human rights concerns,&quot; she told ANC. <br/> <br/>&quot;You have to wait and see how it plays out... It is definitely problematic, but I think we have to see how that pans out ahead,&quot; she added. </p><p>The Philippines&#x27; withdrawal from ICC becomes final on Sunday, a year after it told the United Nations that it was quitting the body. </p><p>However, court officials have said the preliminary probe, launched in February 2018 by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda into possible crimes against humanity in the drug war, would continue.</p><p>Under the court&#x27;s rules, any matter under consideration before a nation leaves the court is still under its jurisdiction, noted Gilbert Andres, one of the counsels of the Philippine Coalition for International Criminal Court. </p><p>A petition questioning Manila&#x27;s defection from ICC is also pending before the Supreme Court, he noted. </p><p>Andres also warned that the split with the tribunal could spawn rights abuses because &quot;because one cannot invoke now the parallel means provided for in the ICC for an effective remedy against international crimes.&quot; </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/19/ph-pullout-from-icc-a-step-back-for-human-rights-chr">PH pullout from ICC a &#x27;step back&#x27; for human rights: CHR</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/17/19/party-list-fears-nastier-rights-abuses-from-icc-exit">Party-list group fears &#x27;nastier rights abuses&#x27; from ICC exit</a></li></ul><p>The departure of the Philippines follows the court being hit in recent years by high-profile acquittals and moves by several nations to drop out, noted Prillai. </p><p>&quot;This is a court that is quite young and it&#x27;s essentially a global experiment at this stage, which will have its ups and downs, and pros and cons,&quot; she said. </p><p>There was no immediate information on whether or not ICC&#x27;s Bensouda has found enough basis to launch a full-blown investigation into Duterte and his signature anti-narcotics policy, she said. </p>

<p>The Philippines will have to "wait and see" if its defection from the International Criminal Court would result in a slump in foreign aid, an international law specialist said Sunday, noting that other issues may be more to Manila's allies. <br /> </p>

The Philippines will have to "wait and see" if its defection from the International Criminal Court would result in a slump in foreign aid, an international law specialist said Sunday, noting that other issues may be more to Manila's allies.