MANILA, Philippines – Isinusulong ni Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro ang pagbalik ng Pilipinas bilang kasapi ng International Criminal Court (ICC).
Ginawa ni Luistro ang pahayag matapos ang naging panawagan ng European Union (EU) na pag-isipan ng Pilipinas ang ginawang pag-alis sa ICC.
Matatandaan na noong termino ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay umalis ang bansa bilang kasapi ng ICC.
Para kay Luistro mahalaga na maging miyembro ng ICC.
“There must be a court of last resort – which will complement domestic courts – that will investigate and, where warranted, try individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, namely: genocide; war crimes; crimes against humanity; and the crime of aggression,” ani Luistro.
“It is imperative for the Philippines to take an unqualified position in its membership in the ICC, not to mention that these commitments are anchored on values that are parallel with that of the Philippines, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” dagdag pa nito.
Ayon sa kongresista, ang ginawang pagkalas ng Pilipinas sa ICC noong 2019 ay isang nakalulungkot na desisyon.
“It sent the wrong message to the international community that we were unwilling to uphold the protection and promotion of human rights, which should be inherent to every individual, and displayed the fragility of our democratic institutions,” paliwanqg pa nito.
Ang pagbalik umano ng Pilipinas sa ICC ay isang pagkilala ng bansa sa pagkakaroon ng hustisya at pagpapanagot sa mga may sala.
“We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men. Rejoining the ICC would reaffirm the country’s commitment to international norms and strengthen its legal framework in holding perpetrators of grave crimes accountable–that, regardless of their status, economic standing, or power, no one is above the law,” pagtatapos pa nito. Gail Mendoza
