Minority senators will not insist on De Lima’s appearance at ICC oral arguments

Minority senators will no longer insist on allowing Senator Leila De Lima to appear before the Supreme Court and argue on the invalidity of President Rodrigo Duterte’s unilateral withdrawal of the country’s membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Former party-list Representative Ibarra Gutierrez will instead argue on behalf of the senators on next Tuesday’s oral argument.

Gutierrez has already submitted his formal entry of appearance to the Supreme Court stating that he will be the counsel for Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Leila De Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV.

The six senators filed a petition before the Supreme Court to nullify the government’s membership withdrawal from ICC for lack of Senate concurrence.

De Lima was originally designated to represent the minority senators but the Supreme Court denied her motions.  /muf

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