Manila, Philippines - Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has expressed the need for careful consideration regarding the House of Representatives' proposal for the government's cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to Philippines News Agency, the proposal, which is currently under scrutiny by the Department of Justice (DOJ), requires a serious study, especially since the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC. The House recently referred House Bill (HB) No. 1477 to its Committee on Justice, urging government cooperation with the ICC. Authored by House Committee on Human Rights chairperson Bienvenido "Benny" M. Abante Jr. and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez, the bill emphasizes the Philippine Constitution's commitment to human dignity and the full respect of human rights.
HB 1477 asserts that the Philippine government respects international law and recognizes the ICC's proceedings, as demonstrated by its initial request to defer the ICC investigation and its subsequent petition to the ICC Appeals Chamber. The resolution also highlights the Supreme Court of the Philippines' judgment that the ICC retains jurisdiction over acts committed by government actors until March 17, 2019, despite the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
The resolution calls on relevant government departments to fully cooperate with the ICC Prosecutor in investigating any alleged crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction. DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano noted that the DOJ will closely observe the committee's discussions on the House resolution. He stated that it is too early to comment, as the resolution has only just initiated discussions on the matter.