Marcos’ refusal to cooperate with ICC probe a ‘disincentive’ to foreign investors – lawmaker

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) — A lawmaker on Wednesday said the Philippines will suffer great consequences due to the Marcos administration’s refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe into the bloody drug war.

“I think a contumacious refusal to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICC makes the country a renegade in the community of nations, and would be a disincentive for foreign investors to come in,” Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said he cannot cooperate with the ICC probe into the Duterte administration’s drug war because the Philippines is a sovereign country and is no longer a colony of the former imperialists.

Lagman pointed out that the Supreme Court ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines from 2011 to March 2019, the period covered by the probe. Manila’s withdrawal from the international tribunal took effect in March 2019.

On the statement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla that ICC officials have “no mechanism by which they can operate” in the country, Lagman reiterated that disallowing their entry will have repercussions on the part of the Philippines.

“We do not live as an island detached from the rest of the world. We will have to comply with our treaty commitments,” he added.

Several lawmakers have filed resolutions calling members of Congress to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte from the ICC probe.

For ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti, these resolutions have no bearing on the proceedings and are “uncalled for.”