Press Statement | 16 March 2019
If the Philippine government’s factually dubious, legally anomalous and politically self-serving withdrawal from the Rome Statute takes effect tomorrow, it will lamentably exclude from the coverage of the ICC & therefore deprive the people of an international venue for legal accountability all future post-withdrawal crimes vs humanity, war crimes & genocide.
Hence, victims will again be deprived of an alternative arena for redress — despite the ICC’s limitations and weaknesses — & will embolden violators who are otherwise insulated, protected or immune from domestic legal accountability.
Nevertheless, reversal of the withdrawal can be explored in the future or a special tribunal can be formed or sanctioned by the UN in lieu of the ICC. Or the people can continue to establish accountability through people’s tribunals whose cumulative moral suasion in conjunction with other non-legal efforts campaigns and actions can change the legal equation over time.#
Edre U. Olalia
NUPL President
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