Reconsidering her position in the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the bloody drug war during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, former Senator Leila De Lima called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for reconsideration, following her being granted bail on her remaining drug case.

In a televised interview, De Lima said that the issuance of the subpoena against Duterte is part of the process now that the workings of the justice system are visible since the judiciary’s independence.

She stressed that it is now time for the administration to rethink their position on the issue of whether the government will cooperate with the ICC investigators.

In 2019, the Marcos administration withdrew from the Rome Statute of the ICC, under which the court no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines, including the crimes that were allegedly happening during the time when the country was still part of the treaty’s state party.

As such, De Lima suggests that the Philippines should consider rejoining the ICC and should work with the ICC investigators to ensure justice for the thousands of victims during the bloody drug war.

It can be recalled that De Lima is one of the most vocal critics of Duterte, who was also detained under the former president’s administration on allegations of drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison during her years of service as the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary.

On November 13, the former senator’s appeal for bail on her remaining drug case was allowed by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

Previously, De Lima had been acquitted in two other cases in February 2021 and May of this year.