A senator said Wednesday that only President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has the discretion on whether to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) or not.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa made the statement when asked to comment about House of Representatives Resolution 1477, which urges the Marcos administration to work with the ICC in the probe into the alleged crimes against humanity committed during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

“If that resolution is approved by the House of Representatives, it will remain a resolution unless acted upon favorably by the President who has made clear of his decision not to allow ICC to intrude our sovereignty,” he said.

In July, Marcos declared that the Philippine government would not cooperate with the ICC, saying the country is not a member of the Rome statute anymore.

“These gov’t agencies are taking orders from the President and not from Congress,” dela Rosa added.

Dela Rosa, then the country’s top cop, led Duterte’s war on drugs, which resulted in deaths and arrests of drug personalities, including police officers.

Several senators have also expressed their opposition to the ICC probe, saying the country’s justice system is working fine.

In a separate statement, Senator Imee Marcos reiterated what the President has repeatedly said that the country would not cooperate with the ICC, being a free country with its own working justice system.

“Panghawakan natin iyon at hindi naman niya tayo bibiguin (We will hold on to it and he will not fail us for sure),” Senator Marcos said.

“Ipapasa pa daw yung ICC resolution na pakialaman tayo ng dayuhan samantalang ang mga korte natin napapatunayan naman na umaandar, malaya, at matibay. Bakit papapasukin pa yung iba? Diyan ako nagtataka (They are going to pass the ICC resolution allowing foreigners to interfere in our affairs while our courts have been proven to be functioning, free, and tough. Why should we let anyone else interfere? I am confused).”

The measure, which was authored by House Human Rights Panel chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr. and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, passed the first reading on Tuesday and was already referred to the House Committee on Justice. (PNA) 

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