Senate OKs resolution ratifying treaty banning nuclear weapons on 2nd reading

The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a resolution expressing its concurrence to the ratification of the Treaty Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons—a pact ratified by President Rodrigo Duterte two months ago.

"This is the first globally applicable multilateral agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons on the basis of international humanitarian law, and the Philippines is among the first states to sign it," said Senator Koko Pimentel, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as he sponsored Resolution No. 620 on the floor.

"Last January 22, 2021, the treaty just entered into force with a total of 52 state parties ratifying the instrument," he added.

The said treaty, signed by the Philippines in September 2017, prohibits the development, testing, production, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

States who ratified the pact are also prohibited to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices.

Allowing any stationing, installation or deployment of these weapons in its territory or at any place under its jurisdiction or control is likewise against the treaty.

After ratifying the treaty in November last year, Duterte transmitted it to the Senate for concurrence as required by the Constitution.

According to the 1987 Constitution, "no treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate."

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the upper chamber will vote on the resolution on third reading next Monday as it will need approval of at least 16 senators.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked about the importance of ratifying the treaty when it is not binding among the states that possess nuclear weapons—US, UK, Russia, China, and France.

"They are not signatories to the treaty, it is not binding on them, and yet they are the ones in possession of nuclear weapons," he pointed out.

"I borrowed the concept of herd immunity to show that the nuclear power states are now surrounded by countries which are signatories to this treaty calling for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and we strengthen such a call if more states join the treaty," Pimentel replied.—LDF, GMA News