MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan Representative Atty. Chel Diokno on Wednesday, August 27, urged the executive branch to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a possible response to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“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 said.
He explained that crimes of aggression against another country may only be filed before the ICC if the complaint is a member state and the incidents occurred within its territory.
“So, our appeal to our executive department is to let us go back to the ICC,” he said.
Bills on WPS education and commemoration
Earlier, on July 9, Diokno, along with his Akbayan party mates filed the House Bills (HBs) 1625 and 1626.
HB 1625 seeks to mandate the teaching of WPS history and geography in both public and private educational institutions at the basic and high school levels.
“By educating our youth, we help ensure that the next generation will safeguard what is rightfully ours as a nation,” Diokno said.
Meanwhile, HB 1626 aims to declare July 12 as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day to honor the Philippines' 2016 victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
“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 shared.
On July 12, 2016, the Hague-based PCA ordered that China’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea had no legal basis.
Diokno is also among 17 legislators who filed a resolution urging the executive branch, via the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to present the arbitral ruling to the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution calls on the UN to press China to honor the 2016 arbitral ruling and stop its ongoing hostile actions in the WPS.
