STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON PRESIDENT DUTERTE'S INTENT TO WITHDRAW FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

It seems that President Duterte is blustering again when he announced his intent to withdraw from the Philippines' membership to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He knows too well that he could not unilaterally rescind the country's commitment to such an important international treaty without the concurrence of the Senate.

In a globalized world, the Philippines should continue to stand with the rest of the modern democratic countries in deterring the gravest violations of the basic human rights known to humankind from being committed by despotic leaders.

As the chief architect of the country's foreign policy, the President should be well-advised to honor and abide by the Philippines' obligations to international agreements and conventions that promote and safeguard the full respect to human rights and the dignity of our people. It is his - and our duty as a nation and as a people - that the gravest crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, are not tolerated.

It would also do well for the President or his foreign policy and security advisers to consult with and get the consensus of the members of the Senate and even the public before making a very crucial decision on matters of national and international importance.