Pimentel: Rejoin the ICC, apply for BRICS membership
MANILA, Philippines — “It is time for the Philippines to be worried about what is happening in the world.”
These were the words used by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III when he pitched ways to improve the country’s foreign policy which includes joining the helm of the International Criminal Court and intergovernmental organization BRICS.
In a privilege speech delivered during the Senate’s Monday plenary session, Pimentel said the entire nation, not only the upper chamber, should be concerned about the world.
“It is also time for our nation to be active on the world stage and try to influence what is happening by supporting, if not initiating, ideas and proposals meant to change the status quo in order to achieve a more democratic, fairer, and just World Order,” said Pimentel.
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The opposition lawmaker then enjoined his colleagues to take time and think about improving the country’s policy which, according to him, is as important as domestic policies.
Article continues after this advertisement“Decisions made in New York, Geneva, or Brussels have consequences in the daily lives of our countrymen. And decisions made in Manila must begin to carry weight in world affairs for their profound insights, deep understanding of the human situation, and basic fundamental fairness,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisement“We must work so that the Philippines can pursue and continue its activist role on the international stage, proposing bold and challenging new ideas, all meant to further improve the international order by making the World Order fairer, thus hopefully bringing economic progress and better lives to all the Peoples of the world,” he added.
In line with this, he proposed that the following actions, among others, be made to boost the country’s foreign policy:
- support proposals to increase the Security Council’s membership
- rejoin the ICC
- let the Philippines apply to join BRICS
- support initiatives to develop an alternative to the use of the US Dollar as the primary medium of exchange for world trade
- treat Indonesia as our “Big Brother” when it comes to mining.
Ending his sentiments, Pimentel emphasized that the Philippines need to develop one national stand on international issues and communicate this throughout the government.
