Manila, March 20 -- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday reaffirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines as a state, but only over individuals accused of crimes under international humanitarian law.

"The jurisdiction of the ICC is throughout the world. We belong to the community of nations that is tied together by a legal system called International Humanitarian Law," he explained during an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Remulla referenced Republic Act No. 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, enacted in 2009, which aligns the country with international legal standards...