MANILA — Representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) may be allowed to enter the Philippines, but under conditions that they would need to follow, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Asked if he already has a directive to the Bureau of Immigration regarding the possible entry of ICC representatives, Remulla said: “Wala pa naman.”

“'Yan ay pag-uusapan pa namin nang masinsinan. Aalamin pa natin kung sino 'yung mga taong maaring pumunta rito upang ipatupad ang kanilang madilim na balak sa ating bansa. Madilim sapagkat ito’y panghihimasok sa isang malayang republika,” Remulla claimed.

“Kung sila’y makikipag-usap sa ating Department of Foreign Affairs, malamang ay kakausapin na tayo ng Department of Foreign Affairs tungkol sa bagay na ito. Ngunit huwag muna nating pangunahan. Tingnan muna natin kung ano ang kanilang nais gawin, at doon tayo magbabase sa pagkilos ng ating gobyerno,” he added.

The government, he said, is willing to listen.

“Principle of comity pa rin among nations. Ayaw naman natin na supladuhan at maging masama sa ibang bansa na mahusay makipag-usap. Ngunit ang panghihimasok ay hindi katanggap-tanggap… tingnan natin kung ano ang gagawin. Kasi hindi pa natin alam ang kanilang pagkilos. Hindi natin sasabihin na okay lang lang na gawin ito o gawin 'yon.”

“Basta huwag lang nilang pakikitunguhan 'yung mga nanghihimasok. 'Yung nais manghimasok sa ating bansa,” he added.

Any intention to come to the Philippines must be discussed with the government first, Remulla said.

He said this consideration can still be accorded to the ICC, even as the President himself has declared that the Philippines will no longer communicate with the body regarding its investigation of the Duterte administration’s bloody war against illegal drugs.

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Remulla said, such is the final stand of the Philippine government.

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“Tapos naman na talaga eh. Naging miyembro tayo nung 2011, at umalis tayo matapos ang 10 taon ay ganun talaga, may katapusan ang lahat, lalong-lalo na ang ganitong relasyon na hindi naman nakakabuti sa atin. At kung hindi rin igagalang 'yung ating sovereignty. Kung hindi nila igagalang ang ating kalayaan, ang ating pagiging isang bansa, marahil mas mabuti nang huwag sumapi sa isang samahan na nais pakialaman ang ating pagpapatakbo ng ating sariling gobyerno,” Remulla told journalists in a briefing late Friday afternoon.

“Wala na tayong pagu-usapan sa ICC... Hindi na natin kailangan 'yan,” he said.

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The Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC meantime, doesn’t mean cutting the country’s ties with other international organizations like the International Court of Justice, Permanent Court of Arbitration and the European Union, he said.

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