MALACAÑANG said Friday President Rodrigo Duterte will not disregard legal processes after saying he was considering withdrawing from the International Criminal Court for criticizing his war on drugs.
“This is an Executive discretion over foreign relations. However, the President as a lawyer will not renege on the legal processes such as the concurrence of the Senate,” Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said.
She made her statement even as Senator Leila de Lima said Duterte could not unilaterally withdraw from the ICC.
“If we will withdraw from the ICC, there is a need for the concurrence of the Senate,” De Lima said.
“He needs to consult first those who ought to be consulted: the members of Congress, other political leaders, human rights groups, the public.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson echoed De Lima.
“I would guess it’s not that simple to withdraw. I guess the decision is not unilateral,” Lacson said.
On Thursday, Duterte said he was studying following in Russia’s footsteps and similarly leaving the ICC following its criticism of the spate of summary killings of drug peddlers and users under his administration.
The ICC can prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
Duterte said he would have no second thoughts about joining a new order organized by China and Russia as he threatened to leave the United Nations.
The United Nations, the European Union, the United States and international human rights groups have all raised concern over the summary killings in the Philippines.