SC urged: Stop Philippines withdrawal from ICC

MANILA, Philippines — Two days before the Philippines exits from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a human rights group yesterday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order the Duterte administration not to proceed with its withdrawal.

The Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) yesterday morning filed a four-page urgent motion for immediate resolution, asking the SC to “resolve these consolidated petitions before (tomorrow).”

PCICC maintained that once the withdrawal takes effect, “it would mean Filipinos would be deprived of effective remedies provided for under international law and constitutional law in the event that there is inaction by Philippine law enforcement authorities to investigate or prosecute impunity committed in the Philippines.”

The petitioners expressed their fear that “the withdrawal taking effect without (the SC’s action), those who kill with impunity will only be further emboldened.”

PCICC, led by former Commission on Human Right chair Loretta Rosales, as well as six opposition senators filed separate petitions before the SC questioning the government’s withdrawal from ICC without Senate ratification.

Oral arguments were conducted last year.