While President Marcos' stand against the investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on alleged abuses and "deaths' during the illegal drugs operation of the past administration remains firm, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the issue "needs serious study on the part of the Department of Justice (DOJ)."
Remulla emphasized that the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC since 2019.
He issued the statement in response to the recent resolution filed by Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairperson of the committee on human rights of the House of Representatives.
Abante's resolution urged relevant government agencies to cooperate with the investigation of the ICC.
Last Oct. 25, Remulla reiterated that the President has not change his stance in refusing to cooperate with the ICC investigation.
“Wala namang pagbabago (Nothing has changed),” said Remulla last Oct. 25 amid calls made by Makabayan bloc lawmakers who filed a resolution asking the House of Representatives to collectively urge the President to clear the way for the ICC probe.
Despite what Remulla had previously said, he admitted that the administration’s stand on the issue could still change in the future.
“Hindi natin pwede sabihin na walang tsansa sapagkat maaaring magbago ang batas (We can’t say this cannot change because laws can change),” he said.
Last July 18, the ICC Appeals Chamber issued a ruling which denied the Philippines' appeal that opposed the order to have the ICC prosecutor resume its investigation of the drugs war.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which filed the appeal, had pointed out, among its arguments, the Philippines already withdrew as a state party of the Rome Statute that created the ICC and this took effect on March 19, 2022 before the ICC prosecutor ordered an investigation in the drugs war.