Locsin calls out ICC for prejudging drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. called out yesterday the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its “fairy tale” endeavor handing judgment before trial, justifying the Philippines’ exit from the ICC.

“Better if we stick to real science instead of fairy tale endeavors of the ICC, which like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland cries out ‘first the judgment, then trial,’” Locsin posted on Twitter.

Last March, former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales filed a complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the ICC for “atrocious” actions in the South China Sea and within Philippine territory constituting crimes against humanity.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor is analyzing whether or not it has jurisdiction over the complaint filed against the Chinese leader.

Lawyer Anne Marie Corominas said the ICC Office of the Prosecutor would hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is basis to proceed with the probe.

Although the Philippines has officially withdrawn from the ICC, the court can still investigate alleged crimes against humanity in relation to the government’s anti-drug campaign.

The Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, became effective on March 17.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that the court retains its jurisdiction over crimes committed in the context of the war on drugs even after its withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

Malacañang has said that ICC representatives would be barred from entering the Philippines if they insist on investigating alleged extrajudicial killings.