SC sets oral arguments on minority senators’ petition vs. ICC withdrawal

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday scheduled oral arguments for six opposition senators' petition against the Philippines' withdrawal from the establishing treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

SC spokesperson Theodore Te told reporters that the tribunal will hear oral arguments on the petition for certiorari and mandamus on July 24, at 2 p.m., at the Supreme Court Session Hall in Manila.

The Court also ordered the respondents in the petition -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano,  Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, permanent Philippine representative to the UN Teodoro Locsin Jr. and chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo -- to comment on the pleading within a non-extendible period of 10 days upon receipt of notice.

Filed by Senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV, the petition asked the SC to declare as "invalid and ineffective" the Philippines' backing out from the Rome Statute of the ICC without the concurrence of at least 2/3 of the Senate.

The pleading also asked the high tribunal to compel the government's executive department to inform the United Nations that it is "cancelling, revoking or withdrawing" its instrument of withdrawal for its alleged inconsistency with Philippine law.

The Senate ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2011.

On March 14 this year, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the country was withdrawing from the ICC, amid an initial examination of allegations against him and several of his senior officials for crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's deadly anti-drug campaign.

Duterte has previously said the ICC has no jurisdiction over him.

However, a withdrawal from the international court -- which takes effect a full year after formal notification -- will not eliminate ongoing proceedings against Duterte. — RSJ, GMA News