THE Philippines has become the 117th state to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the court that deals specifically with the most gruesome crimes facing humanity.
According to a press statement, Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, deposited the instrument with the UN Office of Legal Affairs Wednesday. With her was Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, Philippine permanent representative to the UN.
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Instrument of Ratification last May 6, and the Senate concurred on August 24.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago sponsored Senate Resolution Number 546 which gave the Senate’s concurrence, with Legarda as co-sponsor.
The ICC is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and has jurisdiction over individuals from states that are parties to the treaty in cases involving genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. (End)