Majority backs PH court review of ICC arrest warrants — survey

MANILA, Philippines — A majority of Filipino voters favor requiring Philippine courts to review arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) before they are enforced in the country, according to a survey released on Wednesday. The poll found that 60 percent of respondents supported a proposed Senate resolution mandating local judicial review of ICC-issued warrants, indicating a preference for domestic due process. Twenty-five percent opposed the measure, while 15 percent said they were unaware of the issue. Support was strongest in North-Central Luzon at 67 percent and in the Visayas at 64 percent. By age group, those aged 40 to 49 posted the highest approval at 71 percent. The proposal also received majority backing across political alignments, with 63 percent support recorded among pro-administration, anti-administration, and anti-opposition respondents. By generation, Millennials led with 63 percent support, followed by Generation X at 61 percent. In contrast, public opinion on whether the Philippines should rejoin the ICC was more divided. The survey showed that 54 percent supported reentry into the tribunal, while 28 percent opposed it and 18 percent said they lacked sufficient knowledge to decide. Support for rejoining the ICC was highest in the National Capital Region and South Luzon, both at 62 percent. Younger voters drove the pro-ICC sentiment, with 60 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 63 percent of those aged 25 to 29 expressing support. Among generational groups, Generation Z recorded 62 percent approval. Across political groupings, support for reentry was strongest among pro-administration respondents at 73 percent, followed by anti-opposition voters at 60 percent. The findings indicate a dual public stance: strong backing for asserting Philippine judicial authority over international legal processes, alongside moderate openness to renewed engagement with the ICC. The survey, conducted from March 21 to 24, 2026, covered 1,509 registered voters using purposive sampling from the PureSpectrum research panel and carried a margin of error of ±3 percent. Pahayag is the corporate social responsibility initiative of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., with Vox Opinion Research serving as its commissioned research arm.

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