The Malacañang said on Tuesday that the International Criminal Court has the right and jurisdiction to investigate crimes that took place prior to the 2019 withdrawal of the Philippines as a member.
At a press conference, Palace press officer Atty. Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. believes the ICC has no jurisdiction over the country now.
“Una ang sinabi kasi ng Pangulo is walang jurisdiction ngayon, totoo naman po, walang jurisdiction ang ICC ngayon. Pero kung pagbabasehan po natin ang sinabi ng Supreme Court sa kanilang naging desisyon, although it’s an obiter dictum, but still pronouncement pa rin ng Supreme Court na lahat po na lahat po ng nangyari na krimen na sakop po ng ICC at ayon rin po sa Rome Statute na naganap prior to the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, mayroon po jurisdiction ang ICC,” Castro said.
The time frame that the ICC is investigating includes the time that former President Rodrigo Duterte was still serving as a mayor for Davao.
Then the Philippines under the administration of Duterte pulled out from the Rome Statute in March 2018 and was officially no longer a member by March 2019.