Senate concurs with ratification of treaty vs illegal weapons trade
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution supporting the ratification of the United Nations' (UN) Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an agreement which aims to establish international standards in regulating the trade of conventional weapons in efforts to prevent them from falling into wrong hands.
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, chair of the trade, commerce and entrepreneurship committee, assured that the adoption of the treaty will not "negatively" affect the local arms industry.
Sixteen senators voted in favor of ratifying the international treaty. There were no votes against it.
Six senators opted to abstain from voting on the resolution: Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Sens. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Christopher "Bong" Go, Grace Poe and Francis Tolentino.
Ratification of treaties and international agreements requires the vote of at least two-thirds of all the members of the upper house.
"Supporting the ATT is consistent with the Philippines' policy of championing and leading global efforts on peace and disarmament," Pimentel, who sponsored Resolution No. 960, said in a statement.
In implementing the treaty, the country is required to share information to "mitigate its risk of diversion", and take measures to enforce national laws, he added. Diversion refers to weapons and ammunition going to unauthorized users and usage.
Signatories of the treaty must also develop trade control systems for conventional arms.
The ATT covers the trade of weapons such as:
- battle tanks
- armored combat vehicles
- large-caliber artillery systems
- combat aircrafts
- warships
- missiles
- missile launchers
- small arms and light weapons, including ammunition, parts and components.
'Treaty not seen to affect locals arms trade'
The agreement prohibits the transfer of arms, ammunitions, and components which would violate obligations under the UN Charter; the duties of state parties under other international agreements; and if the items will be used to commit crimes against humanity, among others.
"The ATT will not negatively impact our local arms industries in terms of exports or imports," Pimentel said, citing a Center for Arms Violence Reduction report which found that the ATT will help bolster trade standards and improve market value.
"The Arms Trade Treaty can help address our long-time problem of weapons ending up in the hands of criminal groups in our country," he added.
In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted the ATT, with over 100 state parties present at the annual event.
The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian signatory to the agreement in 2013, according to Pimentel.
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