BEFORE the headline topic, a word on the brewing controversy over mostly Western nongovernment organizations calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to resume its investigation of drug-war killings under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

While the former chief executive could use some excitement in retirement, according to former top aide and now Sen. Christopher Lawrence Bong' Go, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is right to resist pressure seeking not only to revive the ICC probe, but also to reverse the Philippines' 2019 exit from the body ordered by Duterte when the investigation began.