Guevarra clarifies ICC situation with Marcos: Appeal still pending

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said he has clarified to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the government’s appeal before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the drug war probe is still pending.

In March, Marcos said the Philippines will disengage from any contact and communication with the ICC after he announced that the government’s appeal supposedly “failed.”

“Yes, I have clarified it with PBBM,” Guevarra told GMA News Online.

According to Guevarra, Marcos directed officials to just wait for the resolution of the appeal.

Guevarra issued the remark when sought for comment over the Department of Foreign Affairs’ refusal to accommodate the Senate panel’s request to invite the ICC to the hearing on resolutions defending former President Rodrigo Duterte from any investigation and prosecution by the tribunal.

The DFA said the agency cannot facilitate their request due to Marcos’ pronouncement about “disengaging” from the ICC.

In March, the ICC Appeals Chamber rejected the government’s appeal to suspend the probe on the drug war while the main appeal on the decision of the ICC pre-trial chamber to authorize the probe is still pending.

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in March 2019, under the leadership of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News