By Charissa Luci

Senate president Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked Malacañang to carefully study planned withdrawal from the International Criminal Court that President Rodrigo Duterte recently announced.

Pimentel, in a radio interview, said while the country has the right to withdraw, “they should think it over and study it carefully. Discuss it with the Cabinet, with the DFA, there should be a study group and a position paper.”

“If there’s a final decision, they should explain it to the public why we have to withdraw, then follow the procedure.”

He said there is a formal procedure to follow and if the country complies with it, then the United Nations will respect such decision.

But so far, he said, “we haven’t received benefits from our membership in the ICC and nothing bad also happened to us from being a member.”

Pimentel and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said even if the Philippines withdraws, it can still be investigated by the ICC, especially since it already expressed intent to investigate the extrajudicial killings in the country as a result of President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Escudero, in a separate radio interview, said the Senate will study if the Duterte administration’s plan needs Senate’s nod.

He also lamented the president’s apparent “spur-of-the-moment” decision.

Foreign affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. earlier said the Philippines is better off leaving the ICC if the tribunal will not be treating the country as sovereign people and will be interfering and disrespecting the country’s justice system.