Philippines still open to talks with ICC, says Remulla

The Philippines is still open to holding dialogue with the International Criminal Court (ICC) so as long as they do not intervene with the country’s affairs, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

“Ayun naman ang principle of comity pa rin ng mga nations. Ayaw naman natin na supladuhan o maging masama sa ibang bansa na mahusay makipag usap. Ngunit ang pang hihimasok ay hindi katanggap-tanggap,” Remulla said during a media briefing.

(That is the principle of comity of nations. We don’t want to be discourteous against other countries who are willing to talk. But intervention is not acceptable.) 

On Tuesday, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the appeal of the government against the resumption of the ICC prosecutor’s investigation into the controversial drug war.

Numerous government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, have spoken against continued engagement with the ICC since then.

Remulla said the government must first find out what the ICC is seeking to discuss if ever such a situation would occur.

Meanwhile, the Justice Secretary said he has yet to give orders to the Bureau of Immigration following the denial of the appeal.

“‘Yan ay paguusapan pa namin ng masinsinan. Aalamin pa natin kung sino-sino yung mga taong maaring magpunta dito upang ipatupad ang kanilang nais, ang kanilang madilim na balak sa ating bansa. Madilim sapagkat ito’y pang hihimasok sa isang malayang republika,” Remulla said.

(We need to talk about this sincerely. We also need to find out the identity of the individuals who will go here to do what they want, their dark ploy against our country. It is dark because this is an intrusion into a free republic.)

Under the drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records. Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000. —NB, GMA Integrated News