DOJ Sec. Remulla says it's not his call alone to restore Philippines' ICC membership

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Tuesday said restoring the Philippines' membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not his call alone.

Remulla issued the remark when asked if he would support or be open to the call of former Senator Leila de Lima to restore the country’s ICC membership.

“Not my call alone. We have a functioning judicial system,” Remulla told GMA News Online.

Asked if the ICC will be allowed to investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte, Remulla said the country has “withdrawn from the ICC.”

“We have withdrawn from the ICC, as far as I remember,” he said.

In March 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the country is withdrawing

The ICC pre-trial chamber then found a "reasonable basis" in December 2020 to believe that crimes against humanity were committed in the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

However, the ICC probe on the drug war was suspended in November 2021 with authorities saying that the government had been looking into the alleged abuses.

Last month, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested a pre-trial chamber to authorize the resumption of the investigation into the war on drugs.

For his part, Duterte previously said he will prepare for his defense for the ICC investigation after he steps down from office. —KG, GMA News