Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have filed resolutions seeking the revival of the Philippines' membership in the International Criminal Court. The Duterte administration withdrew the country's membership in March 2018. The resolutions aim to reaffirm commitment to human rights and justice.
In Manila, representatives from the Makabayan bloc—Reps. Renee Co, Antonio Tinio, and Sarah Jane Elago—filed House Resolution 809 yesterday to urge the government to rejoin the International Criminal Court by re-acceding to the Rome Statute. Meanwhile, Akbayan representatives Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Island Rep. Kaka Bag-ao introduced HR 811 for the same purpose.
The Makabayan resolution states that 'rejoining the ICC would send a clear and strong message that the Philippines honors its constitutional obligations, respects the sanctity of life and is committed to breaking the cycle of impunity and state violence.' It adds that this would strengthen the country's global reputation as a rights-respecting democracy, restore international confidence in the Philippine legal system, and bolster partnerships rooted in justice and good governance.
As the elected voice of the Filipino people, the House is duty-bound to champion justice, truth, and transparency, the lawmakers stated. HR 809 cites Section 17, Paragraph 2 of Republic Act 9851, which allows Philippine authorities to dispense with investigations if the ICC is handling them and to extradite suspects accordingly. Cendaña said returning to the ICC would be an act of solidarity with victims of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration. — Ghio Ong, Ramon Efren Lazaro
