Philippines appeal before ICC still ‘alive’, says SolGen

The Philippines' appeal against the resumption of the International Criminal Court prosecutor's investigation into the killings in the country's war on drugs remains active, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said on Friday.

Guevarra made the remark in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the appeal had "failed."

"It gave me the impression na ang tingin niya ay dismissed na yung ating appeal... Buhay na buhay pa yung apela natin," Guevarra told journalist Malou Mangahas.

"As a matter of fact, yung ICC prosecutor next week pa mag-fa-file yun ng response doon sa ating appeal brief... It's a long process, it's still there. it's still pending," he added.

Guevarra said the ICC Appeals Chamber had posted on its website its ruling on an "incidental matter" in the Philippines' brief, which is the motion to suspend the investigation pending the decision on the appeal.

The appeals chamber had rejected the request for the "suspensive effect" of the appeal.

"Hiniling kasi natin sa appeal natin na pansamantala, while the appeal is pending, ay bigyan muna nila ng tinatawag na suspensive effect yung filing natin ng appeal," Guevarra said.

"Ang nangyari rito, naunang ipinost sa website bago nag-official notification sa Philippine government... Baka naman may nabasa ang Presidente na rejected yung appeal... naging ganun yung impression sa Presidente," he added.

Guevarra said he had sent a memo to the Marcos, advising the Chief Executive of the status of the appeal.

GMA News Online has sought Malacañang's comment on Guevarra's statements. —NB, GMA Integrated News