Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, March 29 criticized President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s move to disengage from the International Criminal Court (ICC)  saying it is a mistake. Hontiveros made the remark after the President expressed his disappointment at the ICC’s decision to reject the Philippine government’s appeal that the court suspend its drug war probe. “His decision to disengage from the ICC is a mistake and will only isolate the Philippines at a time when countries have been trying to forge alliances,” Hontiveros said in a statement. “It is still in the best interests of our countrymen and women, lalo na ang madlang Pilipino, na bumalik tayo sa Rome Statute (especially Filipinos, for us to return to the Rome Statute),” the senator stressed. The government had earlier requested the ICC to suspend its investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed by Marcos’ predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte had launched an all-out bloody anti-illegal drugs campaign which eventually yielded to thousands of drug war victims. Hontiveros was heartened by the ICC’s decision to pursue its probe into the drug killings and questioned the President’s integrity and commitment to cooperate with the international community. “Where is the integrity of the President's word? Did the President not fly around the world, even to the United Nations, to call for unity and cooperation in the international community? Did he not promise commitment to human rights and justice?” she pointed out. “If he acts on his decision to disengage from the International Criminal Court, he will embarrass the Philippines on the international stage. The administration does not seem interested in serving justice for the victims of the drug war as it is invested in pulling away from the ICC,” she further said. As far as she is concerned, she is not aware of any attempt the Marcos administration has made to investigate the murders during the drug war. “Will the President yet again, as they did with many Martial Law victim-survivors, leave the families of the victims empty handed?  Only three cases of at least 6,000 drug-related killings in the past 7 years have been resolved,” she pointed out. “They say our justice system is capable, but they have not exerted any aggressive effort to prove so,” she added. Hontiveros said the Marcos government seems bent on protecting his predecessor from the anomalies hounding his administration. “The administration is willing to settle for a slow-paced rate that will take several lifetimes to tackle all these; it is an impossible task,” she said. “The President seems to be protecting an ally, when he should be protecting the Filipino people,” she stressed.