Most Filipinos in favor of rejoining ICC, study shows
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, as the court's prosecutors began to look into his 'war on drugs' campaign in 2016-22, which they estimate has resulted in the extrajudicial killings of 30,000 Filipinos.
Despite the Philippines' withdrawal, the court has issued an arrest warrant against Duterte, as it keeps jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while a country was a member.
The current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. complied with the arrest warrant and Duterte has been in ICC custody since March, awaiting trial. The Marcos's spokesperson, Claire Castro, said earlier this month that he was also 'open to talking about' rejoining the ICC.
The move would be supported by 57 percent of Filipinos, according to the latest survey by OCTA Research.
'A clear 57 percent of Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the ICC. In contrast, 37 percent are opposed, and 6 percent remain undecided, indicating broad, though not unanimous, public backing for renewed engagement,' the Quezon City-based polling and research firm said in its report.
The study was conducted between April 20 and April 24, on 1,200 respondents in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In Mindanao, where Duterte traces his political roots and despite detention won the mayoral election last month, the support for rejoining the ICC was the lowest.
'In Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and the Visayas, at least 60 percent of respondents express support,' the OCTA Research report said. 'In Mindanao, however, is an exception — with only 30 percent supporting the move and 66 percent expressing opposition, the highest rate of opposition recorded across regions.'
The highest rate of support for reengagement with the ICC was among people aged 25-34, with 62 percent of them in favor of the move, while the lowest support was among those aged 45-54, at 50 percent.
Duterte's arrest has likely contributed to awareness about the ICC across the Philippines, with 85 percent of adult Filipinos claiming to have seen, read, or heard about the court and only 13 percent reporting being unaware of it.
'This widespread awareness sets the stage for significant national conversations on justice, accountability, and the Philippines' potential reengagement with the ICC,' OCTA Research said.
'Awareness levels are consistently high nationwide. In Metro Manila, 89 percent of respondents indicated familiarity with the ICC, followed closely by Balance Luzon (86 percent), Mindanao (85 percent), and the Visayas (77 percent).'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier makes Philippines port call
The nuclear-powered US carrier George Washington arrived off the Philippine capital Thursday for a port visit, as the two allies increase defense cooperation aimed at contesting China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The Nimitz-class vessel's port call came the same day that China's first domestically produced aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes, despite an international ruling its assertion has no merit. 'The US Navy along with our allies and partners are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific,' the ship's spokesman, Lieutenant-Commander Mark Langford, told AFP by email, without offering further details about the visit. 'These operations demonstrate the commitment to stability in the region, a commitment we uphold throughout the year and regardless of current events,' Langford said, calling the Philippines a 'long-standing and critical ally.' Manila and Washington have deepened their cooperation since President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing's South China Sea claims. Bound by a 1951 mutual defense treaty, the two allies conduct frequent maritime exercises in the South China Sea. The Philippine and US coast guards in May conducted their first-ever joint military drills in the archipelago nation's coastal waters. The Shandong, which sailed off the northern Philippines in April, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday after concluding combat drills in the western Pacific alongside fellow Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning. The US Department of Defense said in a December report that China numerically has the largest navy in the world, with a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Deputy minister receives Romanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Romanian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh on Tuesday. Separately, Al-Rassi also met Raymond Balatbatto, ambassador of the Philippines to the Kingdom. During the meetings, all sides discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Manila's negotiator to China takes oath as Philippines' new top diplomat
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sworn in Theresa Lazaro, a veteran diplomat who previously led Philippine negotiations with China, as the country's new foreign affairs secretary. Lazaro took her oath on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Manila where she was also conferred with the Order of Sikatuna, a national honor of diplomatic merit, 'in recognition of her leadership and vital contributions' to Philippine foreign policy and diplomacy, Marcos' office said in a statement. 'The president underscored Lazaro's pivotal role in advancing Philippine interests in critical foreign policy issues, including maritime security, regional peace and stability, and multilateral cooperation under the ASEAN Political-Security Pillar,' it said. 'The president also recognized her leadership in establishing and revitalizing diplomatic mechanisms with traditional and emerging partners.' Lazaro served as undersecretary for bilateral relations and Association of Southeast Asian Nations affairs under her predecessor, Enrique Manalo, who will return to his role as the Philippines' permanent representative to the UN in New York. Her appointment was first announced in late May, a day after Marcos asked his cabinet members to resign as he attempted to address the people's dissatisfaction over his administration's performance and improve the quality of public service. The president has since retained some and replaced others, including the national police chief, solicitor general and foreign secretary positions. Lazaro, whose career in foreign service began in 1984, had also served as the Philippine ambassador to France and Monaco, as well as Switzerland. She is now the second woman to lead the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs after Delia Domingo Albert in 2003. As the foreign affairs undersecretary, Lazaro led the Philippines' negotiations with China last year over the Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal. Between 2023 and 2024, the area in the disputed South China Sea was a flashpoint where clashes often occurred between the Philippines' navy personnel and the Chinese coast guard. Under Lazaro, the two countries reached a 'provisional understanding' in July 2024 that has since kept Philippines' resupply missions to the shoal peaceful. 'The added bonus here is that incoming Secretary Lazaro's experience being front and center in the bilateral consultative mechanisms with Beijing gives her that expertise in dealing with the Chinese. And of course, that will come in handy in future negotiations as well,' geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill told Arab News. He added he did not expect her appointment to mark a shift in Philippine foreign policy, rather a continuity of the efforts that Marcos' administration has been pursuing, with the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East regions as 'priority areas.' 'The Indo-Pacific's Western Pacific and the Middle East, particularly the West Asia, North Africa sub-regions … these are very important and will continue to become very important,' he said.
