MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has signed and endorsed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said.
Ochoa said that the President signed last Feb. 28 the Instrument of Ratification of the treaty, which provides for the establishment of the ICC, and asked the Senate for its concurrence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recommended the timely transmittal of the Rome Statute to the Senate in view of the visit of ICC President Sang-Hyun Song from March 7 to 8 in the country.
Ochoa said the ratification of the Rome Statute by the Philippine government sends a message to the international community that the country is committed in upholding and protecting human rights.
“Ratification of the Rome Statute enhances Philippine commitment to human rights and is our contribution to an effective international criminal justice system,” Ochoa said in a statement.
“It complements Republic Act No. 9851, which enables our country on its own to prosecute international crimes and strengthens human rights’ enforcement in our country,” he added.
Republic Act No. 9851, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, was signed into law in December 2009. –JC Bello Ruiz, Manila Bulletin
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