Phl endorses Miriam to ICC

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York is endorsing Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s bid to become a judge in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“The Philippines, as a responsible member of the international community, saw it fit to seek representation in the ICC and there is no one more qualified than Senator Santiago,” Ambassador Libran Cabactulan said.

“Sen. Defensor-Santiago has a proven track record in the Philippines and abroad. Her academic and professional achievements are exemplary and her personal commitment to the rule of law is most admirable. The UN recognized as much when it listed her in its 2000 roster of eminent and highly qualified experts on international law,” he added. Santiago endorsed the ratification of the Rome Statute through Senate Resolution Number 546.

Cabactulan also announced the Philippines’ submission of its Instrument of Ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC to the Secretary-General of the UN.

He reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the submission or “deposit,” as it is called in diplomatic parlance, was made last Aug. 30 at the UN Office of Legal Affairs Treaty Section and witnessed by Sen. Loren Legarda, Senate foreign relations committee chair.

The Philippines is the 117th state to join the ICC.

The ICC, based in The Hague, is empowered to try individuals from member countries for crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes.

The Court has been active since 2002, handling mostly cases in African countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The election of ICC judges will be held during the 10th session of the Assembly of States Parties in New York on Dec. 12-21. Candidates from 12 other countries will vie for six seats in the ICC Judicial Division.

The other candidates are from Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Mauritius, Nigeria, Poland, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

 “The Philippines, a democracy that champions international law and the rule of law, views being party to the Rome Statute of the ICC as a vital part of the on-going global campaign to end impunity and violence against individuals and to further strengthen a rules-based international system, specifically in relation to international human rights law and humanitarian law,” Cabactulan said of the Philippines’ratifying the Rome Statute.

“It is a clear signal of the importance the Philippines places on this treaty,” he added. “The ICC also serves as a deterrent against genocide and other heinous crimes and ensures that all perpetrators of these serious crimes of concern are held accountable,” he said.

President Aquino signed the Instrument of Ratification last May 6. The Senate concurrence came on Aug. 24.