Koko Pimentel Calls on Bongbong Marcos To have PH Back in ICC

Sen. Koko Pimentel Speaks on PH Stand over ICC

KOKO PIMENTEL – The Senate Minority Leader called on President Bongbong Marcos to have the Philippines back in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In 2018, then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced the withdrawal of the Philippines from the ICC. The decision came after the tribunal announced in 2017 its pursuit to conduct a probe on the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

The anti-drugs campaign of the Duterte administration is facing several issues and accusations. There are deaths linked to the war on drugs and both the Senate and the House of Representatives are conducting an investigation now on the issues.

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte appeared at the Senate hearing and it was an unexpected to many people considering his repeated absences in the inquiry conducted by the House. Prior to it, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel announced that the Senate hearing will push through even without Duterte.

In February, amid the questionable ties between the Dutertes and the Marcoses, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stood firm in his stand that he will not allow the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) and recognize their jurisdiction in the country.

Recently, following the Senate hearing on the war on drugs of the Duterte administration where the former President made strong claims, Sen. Koko Pimentel called on Pres. Bongbong Marcos to reconsider his stand on the Philippines rejoining the ICC.

Based on a report on GMA News, speaking before the members of the diplomatic community at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sen. Koko Pimentel called on Pres. Bongbong Marcos on the Philippines rejoining the ICC which he described as an “insurance policy” of the country if the justice system in the country fails.

“Let us rejoin the ICC. We should treat this as our ‘insurance policy’ just in case ‘our system’ fails us and we get to elect an abusive, tyrannical, heartless leader, and our justice system fails us too,” Pimentel said.

According to the Senator, the Philippines rejoining the ICC is an executive move. He called on the President to sign the documents needed for the country to rejoin the international tribunal

“We’ve seen that in the worst-case scenario where our systems fail, such as when our democratic system elects… one without conscience or compassion, and our justice system is slow to respond,” the Senator said.

Previously, after the Senate hearing on the war on drugs, Sen. Koko Pimentel stressed that he is no longer a Duterte supporter. He assured the public that the former Chief Executive has no influence over him.