STATEMENT OF AKBAYAN SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON DUTERTE AND ICC

The Philippines is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The ICC is an important international process in exacting accountability, dispensing justice and in transforming and/or returning countries into rights-respecting democracies. It will be but proper for the Duterte government to recognize the ICC processes accurately and accord it due respect.

I am saddened that some members of the Senate of the Philippines were included in the communication of information filed before the ICC. I hope that they will respond to these accusations appropriately and satisfactorily.

The Philippines is part of a global community joined by the shared respect for democracy, human rights and dignity. We cannot use the country's sovereignty to hide the appalling climate of killing and impunity across the nation. We have an obligation to subject our public policies and even our leaders to scrutiny, in the same way that we may hold accountable the actions of other nation-states.