Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev. (Photo courtesy: PTV)
MANILA -- Malacanang on Thursday thanked Russia for respecting President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the body started looking into the government's anti-narcotics campaign.
“That’s to be expected. We would like to thank Russia for such comment,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a Palace media briefing.
On Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said his country “fully understand” and “deeply respects” the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC.
In an interview with cable ANC television, Khovaev said the ICC is not a judicial body and all its activities “are highly politicized” and are used “as instrument to put political pressure on selective countries".
“We cannot accept certain approach that’s why my country decided to withdraw from their Rome Statute,” the Russian envoy said.
Last week, Duterte announced his decision to withdraw from the ICC “effective immediately," enjoining other member countries to follow suit.
Duterte said the attacks against him and the attempts by ICC special prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to put him under court jurisdiction in connection with its probe into the country’s war on drugs prompted the withdrawal.
He said the ICC has no jurisdiction over him since the Rome Statute is not enforceable as a law in the Philippines, citing its non-publication in the Official Gazette, which was required under Philippine jurisprudence when the country ratified it in August 2011.
Roque disputed ICC’s claim that the Philippines is still duty bound to cooperate with the court’s preliminary investigation on its war on drugs.
“When ICC said that we continue to be bound by a duty to cooperate, I’d like to reiterate that the President’s decision was to immediately withdraw. I don’t think ICC can look forward to cooperation from the Philippines as a state party or soon to be state party to the ICC,” Roque said.
“I don’t know how the ICC can proceed without the Philippines’ cooperation,” he added.
Roque said ICC has to rethink its options “because they are at the crossroads".
“We could prove the ICC has been inutile and the ICC will blame its prosecutor for violating the principle of complementarity,” he added.
He said the Philippines is not alone in its decision to quit from ICC, saying other countries are poised to initiate withdrawal proceedings.
“I have read reports that countries like South Africa, although it has relented from its earlier decision to withdraw from the court, will initiate withdrawal proceedings again,” he said.
Roque said even big countries like the United States, China and Russia are not members of the ICC. (PNA)
