ICC case vs Xi gets support from De Lima, Colmenares, Zarate
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Leila de Lima and two members of the Makabayan bloc on Saturday lauded the filing of a complaint by former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Del Rosario and Morales filed the case on March 15 or two days before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC, which was ordered by President Duterte, took effect.
In filing the complaint, Del Rosario and Morales argued that the “atrocious actions of Chinese officials in the South China Sea and within Philippine territory’’ constitute crimes against humanity that the ICC can prosecute.
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In a statement sent from Camp Crame where she is being detained on drug charges, De Lima described the filing of the complaint by De Castro and Morales against Xi as a “remarkable move.”
According to De Lima, China’s attempt to take over the South China Sea deprives not only the Philippines but its neighboring countries as well.
Article continues after this advertisement“In their aggressive and systematic attempt to control the whole of South China Sea, including our territorial waters, China has not only committed a wide-scale and almost irreversible destruction of the environment, but has also deprived our fishermen, as well as those from our ASEAN neighbors, of their food and livelihood,” the senator said in a statement.
Article continues after this advertisementIn February, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Adm. Philip Davidson said China continues to harass Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal.
READ: China still harassing Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal – US Navy official
Del Rosario and Morales lodged their complaint on behalf of Filipinos and the hundreds of thousands of Filipino fishermen who they said were being “persecuted and injured” by China’s aggressive island-building and occupation of islands in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile De Lima slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly being silent on the issue and for “defending” China.
“Ilang beses na ba natin narinig ang ating mga mangingisda na humihingi ng tulong sa ating Pangulong Duterte na ipagtanggol sila laban sa panggigipit at pang-aapi ng mga Tsino sa West Philippines Sea? Mayroon bang naging aksyon ng Pangulo dito maliban sa pagtatanggol sa Tsina?” De Lima said.
“Because of the inaction and disinterest by this administration to do anything in spite of mounting evidence of Chinese abuses in our territory, our fisherfolk, backed by two illustrious and highly respected public figures, have no choice but to take matters in their own hands,” she added.
Meanwhile, opposition senatorial bet Neri Colmenares said the filing of the complaint against Xi would signal the country’s assertion of sovereignty.
In 2016, the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal declared that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and that China’s “nine-dash line” is invalid
The UN Tribunal also said China has violated Philippine sovereign rights.
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“This is one way of asserting our sovereignty against China. We should use every venue both here and internationally to expose and fight China’s takeover of our seas,” Colmenares said in a statement.
“Atin ang West Philippine Sea. The UN Arbitral Tribunal affirmed that. The case now filed in the ICC is an assertion of our legitimate rights over our exclusive economic zone and a means especially for our fisherfolk to get justice,” he added.
For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate echoed the sentiments of De Lima against the government.
Zarate called on the Duterte administration to stand up for the Filipino fishermen and of the country.
“We are not saying that we declare war on China. But what we need is for Malacañang to stand up for our fisherfolks and our territory. We have already suggested in the past the filing of a diplomatic protest and increasing patrols of our seas, among other,” Zarate said.
“One thing is clear though, the government must do something now to stop this creeping invasion of China,” he added.
Malacañang said the ICC complaint filed by De Castro and Morales “may be a futile exercise” and that the case may be dismissed given that China is not a member of the ICC and for “lack of jurisdiction.” /muf
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