Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno on Wednesday urged the Philippine government to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea as a pressing reason for the country’s return.
Diokno explained that the ICC, established under the Rome Statute, provides a legal avenue for the Philippines to pursue cases of aggression if it is again a member. The lawmaker stressed that Beijing’s persistent rejection of the 2016 arbitral ruling and its actions within Philippine territory demand stronger measures.
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Appeal for ICC Rejoining
“Perhaps a good reason for us to return to the International Criminal Court or to the Rome Statute is the aggression of the People’s Republic of China,” Diokno told reporters in Filipino and English at the House.
He added that “under the ICC, we can file [a case of] crimes of aggression against another country as long as we are members of the ICC and the incidents happened in our territory.” Diokno emphasized that the bloc of lawmakers he belongs to has been appealing to the executive to reconsider rejoining.
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, who was angered by the court’s investigation into his administration’s drug war. Diokno argued that the current situation in the West Philippine Sea warrants a shift back to membership.
Parallel Measures to Uphold Sovereignty
Diokno is part of the “WPS bloc” of lawmakers, along with Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and others, who filed House Resolution No. 192. The measure urges the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring before the United Nations General Assembly a resolution calling on China to respect the 2016 arbitral ruling and end its hostile actions in Philippine waters.
“It would be a good reason for us to return to the International Criminal Court or the Rome Statute, given the ongoing aggression of the People’s Republic of China,” Diokno reiterated after filing the resolution.
The lawmaker also underscored parallel initiatives, including House Bill 1625, which seeks to mandate teaching West Philippine Sea history and geography in schools, and House Bill 1626, which proposes declaring July 12 as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day to commemorate the arbitral win against China.
“Declaring July 12 as the West Philippine Sea Victory Day will keep the spirit of our nation’s landmark triumph alive in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people,” the bill’s explanatory note read.
With Beijing’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea continuing to threaten Philippine sovereignty, Diokno and his allies are pressing both legal and legislative actions to ensure the country stands firm in defending its territorial rights.
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