Former Sen. Franklin Drilon in this screenshot photo taken during an online Senate deliberations in 2022. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Franklin Drilon said he fully supports opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ resolution urging Malacañang to work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and probe the alleged rights violations that transpired during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.
“I laud and support Senator Hontiveros’ resolution. We must adhere to our international legal obligations. Former President Duterte may have successfully and unilaterally closed the door to the ICC, but President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] now has the power to unlock it,” said Drilon in a statement.
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The former senator proceeded to cite the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Pangilinan v. Cayetano, saying that despite the country’s withdrawal from the international tribunal, the state remains “obligated to fulfill its obligations under the ICC Statute, including cooperation in ongoing investigations and proceedings.”
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“Its withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings in relation to which the withdrawing State had a duty to cooperate and which were commenced prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective, nor shall it prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective,” said Drilon.
He likewise explained that President Marcos alone, being the chief foreign policy maker of the Philippines, could decide whether to allow or not the entry of ICC into the Philippines.
Drilon said the concurrence of the Senate is no longer necessary for such a move.