Daven Tamayo

House leaders say PH should consider rejoining ICC

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17417783663541741778407962.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A picture taken on Nov. 23, 2015 shows the new building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands. Martijn Beekman, ANP/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A picture taken on Nov. 23, 2015 shows the new building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands. <em>Martijn Beekman, ANP/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Three lawmakers of the House majority believe it is time for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court, following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs.</p><p>House Assistant Majority Leader Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list said being a member would help provide a layer of protection for citizens against the gravest crimes of concern to the international community.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/icc-warrant-outlines-accusations-vs-duterte-1152"><strong>ICC warrant outlines accusations against ex-Philippines president Duterte</strong></a></div><p>“[I]f the State or the government has failed to act on it and provide justice to the victims, where do we go now? That’s why it’s important for the protection of the people and the State… For me it’s our duty to give protection to our people. One way of doing this is to rejoin the Rome Statute,” he said, referring to the treaty creating the ICC.</p><p>House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union agreed, saying the Philippines should consider rejoining.</p><p>“[I]n cases na paulit-ulit mga ganitong problema, so mayroon pa rin tayong tool o mayroon pa rin tayong measuring stick for that,” Ortega said.</p><p>(In cases like this, we will have a tool or a measuring stick for that) </p><p>For House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre of TINGOG Party-list, Duterte’s decision to withdraw from the ICC in 2019 was a way to “avoid accountability” over the bloody drug war, where more than 6,000 deaths have been acknowledged by law enforcement.</p><div><strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/palace-defends-duterte-arrest-to-help-serve-more-icc-arrest-warrants-1249">Palace defends Duterte arrest, to help serve more ICC arrest warrants</a></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/palace-defends-duterte-arrest-to-help-serve-more-icc-arrest-warrants-1249"><strong><br/></strong></a></div><p>“They must have seen this coming. And, clearly, our withdrawal from the ICC has made it difficult for those who were pursuing the case at the ICC to make the government or the administration that time cooperate with whatever proceeding or investigation was being carried out,” Acidre said.</p><p>“If there is that step and if there is that initiative on the part of the administration (to rejoin the ICC), I would support it,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/war-on-drugs">War on Drugs: The Unheard Voices</a></div><p>In 2019, the Philippines, under Duterte, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/03/14/18/ph-to-withdraw-from-icc">officially withdrew from the ICC</a>. But the court said that it still has jurisdiction over the alleged crimes that happened while the country was still a member.</p>

<p>Three lawmakers of the House majority believe it is time for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court, following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs.</p>

Three lawmakers of the House majority believe it is time for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court, following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs.