President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no plans to rejoin the Rome Statute, maintaining the government’s position against restoring the country’s jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the president’s stance “has not changed,” stressing that the Philippines will not return to ICC membership anytime soon.
Leila de Lima criticized the decision, warning it could send the wrong signal about the country’s commitment to justice and accountability.
She argued that ICC membership would provide Filipinos a “court of last resort” if the domestic justice system fails to prosecute serious crimes.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 under former president Rodrigo Duterte, who currently faces an ICC investigation over alleged crimes linked to his anti-drug campaign.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 11, 2026
