President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Ranking solons believe that President Marcos may still change his stance on the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

“Nothing is impossible [in] my humble opinion," Assistant Majority Leader Manila 1st district Rep. Ernesto “Ernix” Dionisio said in a press conference Thursday, May 10. 

The same day, Malacañang said Marcos’ policy of the ICC having no jurisdiction over the Philippines remains the same. However, it noted that there was nothing wrong with the move of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to inform the President of his options. 

Dionisio said the DOJ briefer will provide clarity to the Chief Executive on whether or not the Philippines should reconsider its participation in the ICC. 

"Kung may makitang valid reason para magkaroon ng pagbabago, sa pananaw ko pwede siyang mangyari," said the Manila solon. 

(If there's a valid reason to make a change, then in my view that could happen.) 

“If there is nothing to hide, why be afraid of ICC?...So, either way I would wait for the President’s decision after he sees the complete briefer of the DOJ," said Dionisio.  

Deputy Majority Leader Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V emphasized the importance of the President receiving all relevant information from the DOJ before making any decision. 

“One thing is certain, our President naman po decides on, ganyan po siya, very meticulous po siya. Magde-decide po siya kung nandiyan po sa harap niya ang mga impormasyon at mga options po niya,” Dy said. 

(Our President is very meticulous when he decides on something. He will decide once he has all the information and options in front of him.). 

He continued, “So, definitely nothing is impossible. It’s up for our President BBM to decide on how to proceed once he haul all the information.” 

Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre noted that the DOJ’s preparation of a briefer regarding the ICC issue suggests that the President "has not closed his mind" to potential courses of action. 

“I think mahalaga din na kasama tayo sa mga structures like ICC kasi sa isang mundong paliit ng paliit at nagkakaroon ng borderless crimes at minsan may pagkakataon pang ‘yung isang bansa ay hindi na kayang papanagutin yung mga gumagawa ng krimen,” he pointed out. 

(I think it's also important for us to be part of structures like the ICC because in an ever-changing world there borderless crimes and sometimes the country is unable to make the perpetrators accountable.) 
 

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He nevertheless underscored the need for careful consideration and analysis by the Marcos administration. 

"Joining the ICC, withdrawing from it or returning to it is a call that the administration is in a better position to determine kasi nga mas alam nila kung ano ang nakakabuti at kami naman sa Kongreso ay titimbangin din namin kung saka-sakali (because they are more aware of what is beneficial and we in Comgress will weigh in should something happen),” he said. 

It was March 2018 when then-president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.  

This, after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she would start a preliminary examination against Duterte in connection with complaints on his bloody war against illegal drugs.