MANILA – With public support leaning toward rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is under increasing pressure to reconsider the country’s withdrawal from the tribunal — a move made under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who now faces charges of crimes against humanity.
A recent Tugon ng Masa survey by OCTA Research revealed that 57 percent of Filipinos favor the Philippines’ return to the ICC. In response, Malacañang said the President is listening to the public’s views and has not closed the door on the possibility of rejoining the court.
“Sa ngayon po ay muli, hindi pa po natin napaguusapan iyan. Hindi pa po nababanggit ng Pangulo pero ‘yung ganitong mga sentimyento po ng ating mga kababayan ay dinidinig naman po ng ating Pangulo,” said Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro in a recent briefing.
“Pero titignan po natin sa mga susunod na raw kung ano po ang magiging saloobin ng Pangulo sa pag-rejoin sa ICC,” she added.
The Philippines officially exited the ICC on March 17, 2019, following Duterte’s directive to withdraw from the Rome Statute — the treaty that created the court — as the ICC launched a preliminary probe into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to his war on drugs.
Duterte, now detained at the ICC Detention Center in The Hague, Netherlands, is facing charges connected to alleged crimes against humanity committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
On June 19, Castro confirmed that President Marcos is open to discussions about returning to the ICC, particularly as calls from both domestic sectors and the international community grow louder in urging the Philippines to revisit its past commitment to international justice mechanisms.
While no formal decision has been made, Malacañang emphasized that the administration is carefully weighing all perspectives, with the President remaining “attuned to the voice of the people.”/PN
