Senator Risa Hontiveros has questioned President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s decision of not making the Philippines rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying there is "nothing to be afraid of, if there is nothing to hide".
"Why is there hesitance?" Hontiveros asked on Monday, Aug. 1, after Marcos announced the Philippines has no more intention to do so.
While Hontiveros acknowledged that it was Marcos's prerogative, "it is regrettable as the Rome Statute is the collective commitment of the community of nations against state sponsored impunity".
The opposition senator also said he hopes Marcos will not undermine or block investigations of acts or violations that took place before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.
"Mandato pa rin nila ang mag-imbestiga, kaya dapat hindi sila maharang sa kanilang trabaho. Kung wala namang itinatago, dapat hindi matakot ang sinuman sa imbestigasyong ito (It's their mandate to investigate, so they shouldn't be prevented from doing their job. If there's nothing to hide, then there's nothing to be afraid of)," she added.