SC听says听it听can鈥檛 reverse听听Duterte鈥檚 decision to withdraw from听ICC听
THE COUNTRY鈥橲 Highest Court said in a ruling released Wednesday that it is beyond its authority to reverse President Rodrigo R. Duterte鈥檚听decision to withdraw the Philippines from the International Criminal Court (ICC).听听听
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court (SC) said the government must still cooperate with the ICC鈥檚 investigation on alleged human rights violations in听Mr. Duterte鈥檚听anti-drug听campaign.听听
The unanimous decision, penned by Associate听Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen听with 14听justices concurring, is contained in the full text of the ruling dismissing the petitions against the withdrawal from ICC.听
In听the听106-page decision dated March 16 and published on July 21,听the Supreme Court听said the Philippines,听鈥渆ven if it has deposited the instrument of withdrawal, it shall not be discharged from any criminal proceedings.鈥澨听
The high court further explained that the petitions against the withdrawal were听鈥渕oot and academic鈥澨齜ecause the听President is allowed by the Constitution anytime听鈥渢o make preliminary determinations on what鈥μ齧ight be urgently required鈥澨齮o make the country鈥檚 foreign policy in line with national interests.听听
It added that听鈥渋nterference and ruling on what course of action to take would mean an imposition鈥澨齩f the听Supreme Court鈥檚 will on the executive听branch of government as well as on the听ICC itself,听which听鈥渋s not the function of this Court.鈥澨
It听also held that Mr. Duterte鈥檚 withdrawal from ICC听鈥渨as in accordance with the mechanism provided in the treaty.鈥澨
It further stated听that听despite the withdrawal,听鈥渢his Court finds no lesser protection of human rights within our system of laws,鈥澨齛nd that the high court disagrees with the petitioners鈥櫶齭tatements that the judiciary will not be able to fulfill its mandate of protecting human rights without the treaty.听听
The petitions filed in 2018 asserted that the Senate did not concur with Mr. Duterte鈥檚 decision, which is a requirement under the Rome Statute. Among the petitioners were Senators Francis N. Pangilinan, Franklin M. Drilon, and Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel; former senators Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV and Antonio F. Trillanes IV; and the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Courts.听鈥斕鼴ianca Angelica D.听A帽ago听听
