Separate resolutions were filed by lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Monday urging the government to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is handling a crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
House Resolution 809 was filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co.
The so-called Makabayan bloc said rejoining the Hague-based tribunal would reaffirm the country’s “commitment to upholding justice, human dignity, and the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, joined by Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, issued a similar call through House Resolution 811.
Cendaña said returning to the ICC would show solidarity with victims of alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under Duterte’s anti-drug campaign — the basis of the case before the court.
“We need to show that unlike the former administration, we are supporting tokhang victims and rejecting the fake war on drugs of Digong,” he said, referring to Duterte’s nickname.
“We cannot allow the return to a tokhang presidency that will belittle human rights, murder children, torture, and dehumanize our people. Hindi dapat natin payagan na maulit itong bangungot ng pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao sa ating bansa,” Cendaña added.
House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega expressed support for studying the proposal to rejoin the ICC.
“It is good to study it since we are a founding member… We will support if there is a move to rejoin,” he said.
The resolutions were filed as the ICC is set to hold a confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte, who is currently in the custody of the court.
Meanwhile, PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte claimed the ICC case against his uncle is driven by politics.
“Today is not about accountability. Today is not about victims or justice. Today is about politics, plain and simple,” he said in a statement.