PHL cannot leave ICC without Senate nod, De Lima reminds Duterte

Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday reminded President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippines cannot withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) without the concurrence of the Senate.

In a statement, De Lima said: “It seems that President Duterte is blustering again when he announced his intent to withdraw from the Philippines’ membership to the International Criminal Court.”

“He knows too well that he could not unilaterally rescind the country’s commitment to such an important international treaty without the concurrence of the Senate,” the senator pointed out.

She said Duterte and his foreign policy advisers should consult with the Senate and even the public before making a “very crucial” decision.

Before heading to the APEC Summit in Peru, Duterte said he was considering withdrawing from the ICC, which had earlier expressed concern over the spate of drug-related killings in the country.

"Mind you, sabi ng Russia, 'We will protect you,'" Duterte said in a pre-departure briefing in Davao City on Thursday.

"Ang problema, ang Russia withdrew from the International Court. What could be the reason? I really do not know. Maybe to protect what they are doing in Syria now, the incessant bombings and the killing of civilians... I might follow [Russia]. Why? Tayo lang maliliit ang binubugbog ng mga walanghiya," he said.

De Lima said the President, as the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy, should be advised to “honor and abide” by the Philippines’ obligations to international agreements “that promote and safeguard the full respect to human rights and the dignity of our people.”

“It is his and our duty as a nation and as a people that the gravest crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, are not tolerated,” De Lima said. — BM, GMA News