Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is paying attention to public sentiment regarding the Philippines' potential rejoining of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as indicated by Malaca±ang. This follows a recent survey by OCTA Research, conducted from April 22 to 24, which revealed that 57 percent of Filipinos support the idea of the Philippines returning to the ICC as a member state.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated in a press briefing that discussions on the matter have not yet taken place. While President Marcos has not mentioned rejoining the ICC, he is reportedly considering the sentiments of the Filipino people. Castro mentioned that the administration would observe the President's stance on the issue in the upcoming days.

The Philippines initially withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in March 2018. This decision was made by former president Rodrigo Duterte after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued investigating alleged crimes linked to Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign. The official severance from the ICC occurred on March 17, 2019, marking a full year since the revocation of the Rome Statute.

Currently, Duterte is detained at the ICC Detention Center in The Hague, Netherlands, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. The warrant pertains to alleged crimes against humanity associated with Duterte's drug war, conducted between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.

On June 19, it was reported that President Marcos is receptive to discussions about the Philippines potentially rejoining the ICC, amid international appeals for the country to restore its previous ratification of the Rome Statute.