Rejoining ICC ‘imperative’ for Philippine, says lawmaker

December 9, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — It is “imperative” for the Philippine government under the administration of President Marcos to “rejoin” the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the European Union, an administration lawmaker said over the weekend.

“The decision to depart from the Rome Statute in 2019 was a devastating decision,” Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said, referring to the decision of the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw from the organization.

“It sent the wrong message to the international community that we were unwilling to uphold the protection and promotion of human rights, which should be inherent in every individual, and displayed the fragility of our democratic institutions,” Luistro added.

The lawmaker explained that at its core, the withdrawal from the ICC signified to Filipinos that the government’s commitment to international treaties, more importantly to the country’s domestic laws, is malleable enough and can be distorted to the whims of a select few.

Luistro, a member of both the quad committee and the committee on good government and public accountability investigating alleged extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s reign, as well as alleged misuse of millions in confidential funds of his daughter, Vice President Sara, invoked the rule of law.

“We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men, where laws should always be upheld,” Luistro said.

“Rejoining the ICC would reaffirm the country’s commitment to international norms and strengthen its legal framework in holding perpetrators of grave crimes accountable – that, regardless of their status, economic standing, or power, no one is above the law,” she added.

Luistro also asserted in a press statement that the Philippines, being a democratic republic nation, “committed to justice and the preservation of human rights and human dignity,” and it is thus “imperative for the country to take an unqualified position in its membership in the ICC.”

“This is not to mention that these commitments are anchored on values that are parallel to that of the Philippines, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution,” she said, noting that she considers herself an “advocate” for the Philippines’ return as a member of the ICC.

“There must be a court of last resort – which will complement domestic courts – that will investigate and, where warranted, try individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression,” she added.