Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that the Philippines has not changed its stance regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC), emphasizing that if the ICC takes action through Interpol, the country should not ignore it.
“If the ICC makes a move and courses the move through the Interpol and the Interpol makes the request to us for the arrest or delivery of a person subject to ICC jurisdiction, we will respond,” Bersamin said in an interview on Friday.
He clarified that while the Philippines has withdrawn from the ICC and this withdrawal is already in effect, the government should still respond to any requests made through Interpol.
“Iyung position is wala na tayo sa jurisdiction ng ICC pero that does not necessarily mean that the order of the ICC enforced through the Interpol is to be ignored… I’m not saying ‘yung ICC ang inaano natin, ‘yung Interpol ang pinagbibigyan natin,” he added.
Bersamin’s statement followed comments from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who suggested that the Philippines may be signaling a softened stance on the ICC’s investigation into the drug war.
“We will talk to them soon in a very well-defined manner, in the spirit of comity. Some people are trying to bridge the divide to bring us together, so we can sit at one table,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in an interview.
“There are certain areas we can cooperate,” he told Reuters, stressing that “lines have to be drawn properly,” he added.
