Padilla sides with PBBM on ICC probe: 'Such an issue should have already ended'
By Dhel Nazario
Sen. Robinhood Padilla threw his support on President Marcos' stance on the issue of allowing the entry of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the Philippines for its "investigation."
In a statement on Thursday, Nov. 23, Padilla said that such an issue should have already ended when the Philippines withdrew as a member of the ICC during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The President said in July that the Philippines will not cooperate with any investigation conducted by the ICC as the latter no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines.
"I wish to put a definite end to it now, because it will bring only confusion to our people," Padilla said.
"At this point, I ask my fellow Filipinos to unite behind the decision of our government, aimed at ensuring a free Philippines," he added.
It was March 2018 when Duterte ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.
This, was after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she would start a preliminary examination against Duterte in connection with complaints on his bloody war against drugs.
Recently, the House of Representatives (HOR) deliberated House Resolution (HR) Nos. 1393 and 1477, which both seek the Philippine government's cooperation with the ICC pertaining to the investigation of then-president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with complaints regarding his bloody war on drugs.
Of the two, HR No.1393 specified that the investigation was in connection with the alleged crime against humanity committed during the previous Duterte administration.