Isko Moreno on rejoining ICC: What's the benefit to the Philippines?

For presidential aspirant and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, reviving the Philippines' membership to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be given a thought. 

The Hague-based court has started investigation into the Duterte administration's war against illegal drugs, but temporarily halted it last week after the Philippines requested to defer to its own ongoing probe on the drug war-related killings.

On March 16, 2018, government has formally notified the United Nations (UN) of its decision to withdraw from the ICC following a directive from President Rodrigo Duterte.

In withdrawing from the ICC, Duterte cited “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” against him and his administration and the alleged attempt of the ICC prosecutor to place him under the tribunal’s jurisdiction amid accusations of state sanctioned killings being linked to his war on drugs.

When the matter was raised, Moreno asked the benefits the Philippines will get as a member of the ICC.   

He discussed the territorial issue in the West Philippine Sea and asked why the ICC is not enforcing the Hague ruling in which Beijing's massive claims in the region were invalidated.

"Ano naman ang kapakinabangan ng ating bansa? Noong kasali tayo sa ICC, pinipilit nila tayo na tupdin ang ating mga kasunduan under ICC. Ako naman ang maniningil, bakit hindi niyo naman ipatupad 'yung Hague ruling sa WPS? Bakit wala tayong kakamping mga bansa na nagsasalita na signatory naman doon?” Moreno said on Thursday.

Moreno questioned the ICC for not helping the Philippines in enforcing its landmark award in 2016.

“Partner naman din natin sila sa Hague, 'yung Law of the Sea. All countries with great power are also partners in that. Ngayong nanalo tayo, bakit hindi nila tayo tinutulungan na ipatupad 'yun ng tama para sa kapakinabangan naman ng mga Pilipino?” he added.

The ICC investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

It is also participating in a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again.

Moreno has ensured that he would be “fearless” in fighting for the country’s sovereign rights in the region.

“We will be fearless in fighting for what is ours. We will insist on the Hague Ruling. But at the same time as being fearless, we are going to be fair with our discussion and management of the situation on both sides,” Moreno said.

Recently, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought proof from the Duterte administration regarding its investigation into the deaths linked to the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Khan said the pieces of evidence "must consist of tangible evidence, of probative value and a sufficient degree of specificity, demonstrating that concrete and progressive investigative steps have been or are currently being undertaken to ascertain the responsibility of persons for alleged conduct falling within the scope of the authorized ICC investigation."—LDF, GMA News