While the possibility of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not yet discussed by President Marcos, he is listening to the people's opinion about it.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spearheaded the bell-ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Taguig City on July 1, 2025, to celebrate the rollout of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act. (Mark Balmores)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this when asked in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, July 1, if Marcos would be encouraged to rejoin in the ICC following a survey showing that more than half of Filipinos are in favor of the Philippines' return to the ICC.
“Sa ngayon po ay hindi pa po natin napag-uusapan iyan. Hindi pa po nababanggit ng Pangulo, pero iyong mga ganitong sentimyento po ng ating mga kababayan ay dinidinig naman po ng ating Pangulo (For now, we have yet to discuss it. The President has not mentioned it but our President is listening to these kinds of sentiments of our countrymen),” Castro said.
“So, tingnan na lamang po natin sa mga susunod na araw kung ano po ang magiging saloobin ng Pangulo sa pag-rejoin sa ICC (So, let us see in the coming days what the President's opinion in rejoining the ICC),” Castro added.
Based on Octa Research's Tugon ng Masa survey, conducted from April 22 to 24, 57 percent of Filipinos are in favor of the Philippines rejoining the ICC, while 37 percent opposed the idea, and six percent were undecided.
Last month, Malacañang reiterated that Marcos is open to discussions on the Philippines' return to the ICC. However, it is not yet being discussed.
In 2024, Marcos said the Philippines was studying if it could rejoin the ICC and see what the country's options are.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte ordered in 2018 the withdrawal of the Philippines from its membership in the ICC, following the international tribunal’s preliminary investigation into the drug war.