Supreme CourtTHE Supreme Court has turned down several petitions questioning President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to withdraw Philippine membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC) without the Senate's agreement. In a full court ruling dated March 16, 2021 released on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions questioning the unilateral withdrawal for being moot and academic. The high court noted that there were provisions in a prior law, Republic Act 9851, which were amended by the Rome Statute. Impleaded by the petitioners were former Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. The Supreme Court said, "The President's discretion to withdraw is qualified by the extent of legislative involvement on the manner by which a treaty was entered into or came into effect."

Source: Manila Times July 21, 2021 16:30 UTC