Ni Genalyn Kabiling

Umatras na si Pangulong Duterte sa pagsuporta sa International Criminal Court (ICC) bilang protesta sa mga “baseless” at “outrageous” na pag-atake nito sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas.

Ang nasabing hakbang ng Punong Ehekutibo ay nakasaad sa 15-pahinang pahayag ng Malacañang, kung saan nabanggit din na lumabag ang ICC sa due process.

Senyales, aniya, ito ng pagbawi ng bansa sa pirma nito sa Rome Statute, ang tratado ng ICC, kasunod na rin ng kawalan umano ng respeto at pagkiling nito laban sa ating pamahalaan.

VP Sara, tahasang iginiit na hindi niya binoto si Romuadlez

“Given the baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks on my person as well as against my administration, engineered by the officials of the United Nations, as well as the attempt by the International Criminal Court prosecutor to place my person within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, in violation of due process and the presumption of innocence expressly guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution and recognized no less by the Rome Statute, I therefore declare and forthwith give notice, as President of the Republic of the Philippines, that the Philippines is withdrawing its ratification of the Rome Statute effective immediately,” saad sa pahayag ng Pangulo.

Naging ika-117 state party ang Pilipinas sa Rome Statute noong Agosto 2011, kasunod na rin ng ratipikasyon ng Senado sa naturang tratado.

Noong 1998, nilikha naman ang ICC, ang unang permanent international court, upang usigin ang mga sangkot sa genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, at crime of aggression.

“Given that the ICC shows a propensity for failing to give due respect to the State Parties of the Rome Statute and that there is clear bias on the part of the UN against the Philippines, the Philippines may very well consider withdrawing from the Rome Statute,” bahagi pa rin ng pahayag ni Duterte.