MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte still will not cooperate with an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged crimes against humanity due to the bloody "drug war," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. Roque on Thursday was asked to comment on part of the Supreme Court ruling dismissing the consolidated petitions that asked the tribunal to declare the Philippines’ departure from the Rome Statute as invalid due to non-concurrence of the Senate. In the ruling, made public only on Wednesday, the SC said through a ponencia by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen that following Article 127(2) of the Rome Statute, the Philippines is bound by its obligations when it was still a member of the international tribunal. The SC had said: “Until the withdrawal took effect of March 17, 2019, the Philippines was committed to meet its obligations under the Rome Statute. In a virtual briefing from the Palace, Roque pointed out that the main issue raised by petitioners was whether Senate concurrence is required in the withdrawal from the Rome Statute.

Source: Philippine Star July 22, 2021 08:03 UTC