President Marcos study of Philippines rejoining ICC backed

MANILA, Philippines — Five years after the country’s withdrawal during the previous administration, Sen. Francis Escudero supported the decision of President Marcos to thoroughly study calls for the Philippines to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Escudero agreed with the President that the government should look into the matter to ensure the country will not be at a disadvantage just like in some treaties.

“For me, what the President said is correct, that it should be carefully studied, because we have entered into treaties where we are the ones who always pay and we are the ones who suffer,” he said in Filipino in a radio interview over the weekend.

Escudero cited as an example the Philippines’ accession to Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that was established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.

“It’s just like the FATF, we joined that and that’s why we’re the ones being blacklisted. Malaysia did not join, so no matter what they do, they will not be blacklisted,” he said.

As of 2022, the FATF has retained the Philippines in its “gray list,” citing its alleged failure to resolve “strategic inadequacies in countering money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing.”

“So this ICC should also be studied by the President. What will our country benefit from if we rejoin?” Escudero said.

He expressed hope that should the Chief Executive finally let the country rejoin the ICC, the basis will be a product of a well-studied decision that will benefit the country, and not certain political interests.

“I hope it’s not political, I hope the reason for our re-entering the ICC is not personal. That should be explained thoroughly by the executive branch,” Escudero said.

In the event of the country’s return to the ICC, Escudero said the Senate may either issue a concurrence or a resolution supporting the move of President Marcos.