Philippines Will Not Join The International Court Quite Yet
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has backtracked at the last minute on her earlier pledge to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) because of fear of losing military aid from the U.S. which opposes the pact. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye issued Arroyo's sudden change of heart and denied the President raised the issue in her meeting with leaders from the European Union on Tuesday. He said, "The Philippines remains non-committal to the pact as the President believes the country needs more time to observe how the system works." Previously, Philippine pro-Arroyo Senator Mirriam Defensor-Santiago claimed Arroyo had agreed to sign the ICC the day before the EU meeting despite the risk of losing military aid. The Philippine President hoped joining the ICC would win back Europe's leaders who have become concerned about her Administration's human rights record, and the nation's tendency not to honor business contracts. Fresh in European businessmen's minds is the voided contract for the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, that was undertaken by the Philippine International Air Terminals Co and its partner, the German airport operator Fraport AG. Santiago said the president may have backpedaled on the issue after Latin American countries which singed the ICC lost their aid from the U.S. |
