Remulla to clarify gov’t position on ICC membership

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said he will meet with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to clarify the Philippine government’s position on its membership with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Remulla issued the remark when asked if he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talked about the government’s stance on the ICC.

“Hindi pa… although I intend to seek out the executive secretary tomorrow. Just to be able to make sure that we are on the same page on this matter. Syempre, humihingi tayo ng instructions sa executive secretary,” Remulla said.

(Not yet. Although I intend to seek out the executive secretary tomorrow. Just to be able to make sure that we are on the same page on this matter. Of course, we are asking for instructions from the executive secretary.)

“Ika-clarify lang. Kasi kung may balak ba tayong maging miyembro muli ng ICC. Nasa sinasabi ng Kongreso. I want to know how it affects the whole universe of the ICC and the Philippine government as it is right now,” he later added.

(I will only clarify some things. Because if we have plans to become members again of the ICC like what's being said in Congress. I want to know how it affects the whole universe of the ICC and the Philippine government as it is.)

On Tuesday, an administration lawmaker filed a House resolution urging the Marcos administration to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation on the deaths related to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

A similar resolution was filed by Makabayan bloc lawmakers France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list, and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party-list last October.

For the Justice secretary, there is a question of whether the Philippines will return as a member of the ICC amid these calls.

“Pero ang first question is why will we work with the ICC now that we’re no longer members with the ICC, di ba? 'Yun ang tanong eh. So are we going to be members again of the ICC first for this thing to happen?” Remulla said.

(The first question is why will we work with the ICC now that we’re no longer a member of it, right? That’s the question. So are we going to be members again of the ICC for this thing to happen?)

In 2019, the Philippines, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into the drug war, followed by the launch of a formal inquiry later that year.

The probe was suspended in November 2021 after the Philippine government said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations.

In January 2023, the ICC authorized the reopening of the inquiry.

Meanwhile, in July, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied the government’s petition against the resumption of the inquiry, prompting numerous government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, to speak against continued engagement with the ICC.

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.—AOL, GMA Integrated News