Locsin hits ICC anew, tells members to ‘file for vacation leave’

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. advised members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Thursday to “file for vacation leave” as they “appear to be taking leave of their senses.”

Locsin made the statement after Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s comment that the Philippines is a free country in reaction to Rappler’s petition to end the Palace ban of its presidential coverage.

Locsin, who agreed with Panelo that it is a free country, turned his attention to ICC and added that vacation leaves are free as well.

“Everyone is free to file anything, even for vacation leave. In fact, we strongly encourage people to file for vacation leave especially when they appear to be taking leave of their senses. ICC?” Locsin said in a tweet.

I told you, it is a free country; I told that to the Chinese ambassador too. Everyone is free to file anything, even for vacation leave. In fact, we strongly encourage people to file for vacation leave especially when they appear to be taking leave of their senses. ICC? https://t.co/MFLrhPkN1U

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 11, 2019

This is not the first time Locsin took a swipe at ICC.

In March, Locsin said that when he was still the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, he got the Philippines out of the ICC because the tribunal was undermining the government’s sovereignty to decide how to fight the drug trade.

“I got us out of ICC because that woman was like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland (declaring): ‘First the judgment! Then the trial!’ Besides, the US just blacklisted the ICC,” Locsin earlier tweeted.

There's nothing to dodge. Or have you already prejudged as convictions allegations of suspicions? I got us out of ICC because that woman was like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland: "First the judgement! Then the trial!" Besides, the US just blacklisted the ICC. https://t.co/BiL9dh0NhA

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) March 17, 2019

Locsin was also the one who submitted to the office of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres the note verbale containing President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to leave ICC.

The ICC launched a “preliminary examination” in February 2018 on the accusation that Duterte had committed crimes against humanity, following a review of communications and reports documenting the alleged crimes linked to his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

A month later, the President declared the country’s withdrawal from the ICC. /ee

READ: Duterte does the inevitable, declares PH withdrawal from ICC