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Filipino Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos open to discussing ICC return, UN expert's human rights recommendations under study
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to discussing the recommendations of a United Nations expert on improving the country's human rights situation, including the possible return of the Philippines to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing that while there are no formal discussions yet, the president has previously indicated openness to rejoining the ICC. 'Open po siya. No'ng huli po kaming nag-usap… sinabi niya open naman po siya,' Castro said, emphasizing that this was based on past conversations with the president. [Translation: He's open. During our last talk—since this has come up before—he told me he's open to it.] Marcos earlier said the matter of rejoining the ICC remains under study. The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2018 during the Duterte administration. The withdrawal took effect in 2019. Former President Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained by the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity tied to his administration's war on drugs. The potential return to the ICC is one of several recommendations made by UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, who visited the Philippines in 2024 to assess the state of freedom of opinion and expression. Khan's full report, released this week, acknowledged reforms taken under the Marcos administration but said these are not enough to fully move on from past abuses. 'The government must embark on more significant legal, policy, and institutional changes to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression,' Khan said. She also urged the Philippines to ratify key human rights treaties, including the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Among her more controversial proposals was the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), citing its role in red-tagging and other alleged violations. Khan recommended that the government adopt an executive order to formally denounce red-tagging and implement accountability measures for those who engage in the practice. Castro said the administration welcomes the international recognition of its current human rights efforts, and affirmed that the president would carefully study Khan's recommendations. 'Ang suggestion ng UN rapporteur, ito ay magandang suggestion… Pag-aaralan po ito ng mabuti ng pangulo,' she said. [Translation: The UN rapporteur's suggestions are good… The president will study these carefully.]
GMA Network
15 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
CHR calls for more legal protection for media workers
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday called on the government to provide more legal protection for media workers "to ensure press freedom, dissent, and civic participation." "CHR urges the Philippine government to act on the need to enhance the country's legal framework, including proposed legislation such as the Media Workers' Welfare Bill and Journalist Protection Bill, as well as existing mechanisms like Administrative Order No. 35 (creating an inter-agency task force on extrajudicial killings) and Executive Order No. 31, the decriminalization of libel, and a re-examination of key provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020," the CHR said in a statement. The CHR issued the statement after UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan urged the Philippine government to ratify international human rights treaties and restore its past ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "The findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur align with the vision of a democratic society where every Filipino can participate in a healthy ecosystem of truthful information," added the CHR. The CHR also said there is a need to further strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, as well as expand the mandate of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. On the international level, CHR echoed Khan's call for the Philippines to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to reaccede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "Every Filipino's right to freedom of expression and opinion is inherently linked to access to diverse sources of information, protection from threats, and meaningful participation in public life. As such, CHR remains firm in its stand that while the Philippines has seen improvements in this area, there remains a clear need for fundamental reforms to ensure that the free flow of information remains central to the country's democracy," the CHR added. Likewise, the CHR echoed the Special Rapporteur's deep concern over the continued occurrences of red-tagging, persisting cases of enforced disappearances and media killings, incidents of arbitrary detention, and the vilification of human rights defenders. Meanwhile, the CHR also welcomed Khan's recommendation to strengthen the independence of the Commission through the passage of the CHR Charter Bill. CHR hopes that the recommendations set forth by the Special Rapporteur will reinforce the foundations already established toward fostering a safer environment for all Filipinos," said CHR. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Marcos open to talks on Philippines rejoining International Criminal Court, says Malacanang
MANILA: (Bernama-PNA) Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is open to discussions on the country possibly rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), a Palace official said Thursday (June 19), the Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported. This comes amid renewed international calls for accountability over past human rights violations. The suggestion was raised in a report to the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which runs from June to July. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan urged the Philippines to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to restore its membership in the ICC's Rome Statute. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the recommendation was a "good suggestion' and confirmed that President Marcos would study it carefully. "She suggested we consider rejoining the ICC and ratifying other international human rights laws. "The President is open to the idea. The last time we discussed this, he made it clear he is willing to look into it,' Castro said during a press briefing at Malacanang. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in March 2019 under former president Rodrigo Duterte. The move followed the court's decision to investigate alleged abuses linked to his anti-narcotics campaign. Despite the withdrawal, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member. Duterte is currently detained at the ICC headquarters in The Hague. He is awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity. Castro also said the Marcos administration's efforts to strengthen human rights are gaining recognition abroad. "We are pleased that the President's initiatives are being acknowledged internationally,' she said. "These include measures to address enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings that occurred under the previous administration.' - Bernama-PNA
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos open to talks on PH rejoining ICC — Palace
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is open to having discussions as regards to the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said on Thursday. ''Sa aking palagay opo at kaya lang hindi po ngayon napag-uusapan ang bagay na 'yan pero sa mga ganitong suggestion, open naman po ang Pangulo para po ito ay mapag-usapan,'' Castro said in a briefing when asked if having discussions as regards rejoining the ICC is under consideration. (In my opinion, yes and it's just not being discussed right now. But with these kind of suggestions, the President is open to have talks regarding this.) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression has urged the Philippine government to ratify international human rights treaties and restore its past ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Special Rapporteur Irene Khan also called on the country to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. "In the light of the history of enforced disappearances, unlawful killings and persistent impunity in the Philippines, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to open discussions for re-accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," Khan's report said. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, in 2019 after the tribunal launched a probe into the Duterte administration's deadly drug war. When asked about the possibility of the Philippines rejoining the ICC, Marcos, in March, simply smiled and said the matter had not been discussed. This was after the arrest of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and the latter's detention in The Netherlands. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
UN rapporteur urges PH to ratify int'l human rights treaties, return to ICC
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression has called on the Philippine government to ratify international human rights treaties and restore its past ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In a report on the Philippines to the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council from slated from June to July 2025, Special Rapporteur Irene Khan also urged the country to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. "In the light of the history of enforced disappearances, unlawful killings and persistent impunity in the Philippines, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to open discussions for re-accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," Khan's report said. "Both instruments would significantly enhance human rights protection and support the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression," it added. Khan acknowledged the vibrant civil society and diverse media landscape in the Philippines, as well as the serious threats and challenges they face. "While acknowledging the measures taken by the Government since it took office in June 2022, the Special Rapporteur finds that they have not been sufficient," the report read. Khan urged the Philippine government to carry out substantive legal, policy, and institutional reforms to strengthen freedom of expression, end the intimidation and harassment of, threats to, and attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors. "Since June 2022, the Government has taken some measures to end the horrendous attacks on human rights by the previous administration, especially on freedom of expression, but they have not been enough to turn the page decisively on the past," the report read. Khan said the Philippines must embark on more significant legal, policy, and institutional changes to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression. "Releasing those unfairly detained or prosecuted and completing the investigation into and prosecution of killings and enforced disappearances, including the cases raised by the Special Rapporteur in her communications, would send a strong signal of the Government's readiness to move away from the past," the report read. –NB, GMA Integrated News
