Marcos urged to rejoin ICC

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should consider rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC) to show his government’s “genuine commitment” to upholding human rights, a political group said on Sunday.

The Philippines should also re-engage with the tribunal to ensure accountability for its leader, Neri J. Colmenares, chairman of political group Bayan Muna, said.

“The ICC is an essential institution to ensure that no head of state escapes accountability for severe human rights violations. The Philippines must return as a member of the ICC to protect the rights of the Filipino people,” he said in a statement.

Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty when it started looking into allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings. It took effect in 2019. 

Last week, Philippine authorities sent Mr. Duterte to the Netherlands to face allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his signature anti-drug campaign.

“The ongoing ICC proceedings against former President Duterte should serve as a wake-up call to our current leadership. Rejoining the ICC would be a decisive step toward ensuring justice for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings and their families,” Mr. Colmenares said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio