PH withdrawal from ICC: "Given that context, the President’s decision was logical" - Political analyst

Manila, Philippines – The recent move of President Rodrigo Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a logical reason, says a political analyst.

Given that, the president obviously believes that the court is being used by his detractors who wants him out.

According to Ramon Casiple, the executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, the withdrawal from ICC was merely a reaction to the actions of the president’s detractors, who are using human rights issues as ground for ouster.

“It is going to that direction, a destabilization campaign leading to his ouster, and if that will be the case then the frame of mind of the President is to stop it because he has the mandate,” Casiple explained in an interview.

He added that those who filed for charges at the ICC against the president were of course, connected to the opposition camp, referring to the communication filed by lawyer Jude Sabio and also the supplemental complaint made possible by Senator Antonio Trillanes and Rep. Gary Alejano.

These petitioners accused the president of mass murder over his bloody war against illegal drugs.

Furthermore, they escalated the case without even exhausting all available legal means in the country, Casiple added.

Casiple mentioned that the president might have thought that some countries may be involved in the propaganda against him. Thus, with all these reasons, what the president did was logical.

“Given that context, the President’s decision was logical,” he said.

The political analyst further explained that withdrawing from ICC cannot be taken against the Philippines as United States and some countries, were not even a party to the Rome Statue.

“The problem of ICC is that many are questioning why the court seems to only go after third world countries,” he added, inciting the issues that surround the ICC.

Casiple conclude that the President’s decision will unlikely get a negative impact on foreign investors – as they do not care about political issues for as long as the country has good economic policy.

 Source: Manila Times