MANILA – In response to the unexpected joint meetings in the House of Representatives regarding the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction over the Philippines, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte issued a stern reminder to lawmakers, invoking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unequivocal stance on the matter.
“Any probe conducted by the ICC would be an intrusion into our internal matters, and a threat to our sovereignty,” said President Marcos, a sentiment recently reiterated by Vice President Duterte. She highlighted the President’s unwavering commitment, stating, “We are done talking with the ICC. Like what we have been saying from the beginning, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form.”
Emphasizing the need for the House to respect the President’s role as the chief architect of foreign policy, Vice President Duterte stressed, “The President has affirmed that the ICC ceased to have jurisdiction over the Philippines upon the effectivity of our withdrawal from the Rome Statute on March 17, 2019.”
Expressing concern over the potential intrusion on the country’s legal sovereignty, she declared, “To allow ICC prosecutors to investigate alleged crimes that are now under the exclusive jurisdiction of our prosecutors and our Courts is not only patently unconstitutional but effectively belittles and degrades our legal institutions.”
“Huwag nating insultuhin at bigyan ng kahihiyan ang ating mga hukuman sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita sa mundo na tayo ay naniniwala na mga dayuhan lang ang tanging may abilidad na magbigay ng katarungan at hustisya sa ating sariling bayan,” Vice President Duterte added, urging a respectful approach to international legal matters.
