LIVE: Oral arguments on ICC withdrawal

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on petitions challenging the executive department’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. 

The oral arguments cover consolidated petitions from the minority senators and the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court led by former Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Rosales.

Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV asked the SC in May to declare as invalid the country’s withdrawal of its ratification of the Rome Statute due to alleged lack of concurrence from the Senate.

Although Senate concurrence is needed in the ratification of treaties, the Palace has argued that withdrawing from them is within the president's prerogative.

The Philippines announced last March that it would be withdrawing from the ICC. The announcement came a month after the international tribunal's prosecutor opened a preliminary examination — not an investigation — into the alleged crimes against humanity of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. 

Tune in to the live audio streaming of the first day of the oral arguments scheduled at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018.