Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said while Morales and del Rosario have the right to file a communication before the international tribunal it “may be a futile exercise.”

Private citizens of the Philippines are free to express their “righteous indignation” against China for its construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and to bring the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC), Malacañang said yesterday.

Despite calls to review the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States, there have been no requests from either side to do so.

Candidates from an opposition coalition have expressed support of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for filing a communication before the International Criminal Court.

Opening an investigation into allegations of committing crimes against humanity against Chinese President Xi Jinping is now up to the International Criminal Court.