MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can decide by his own legal authority if the Philippines will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) — without Senate concurrence, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

“In my view, the concurrence of the Senate is not necessary for the Philippines to rejoin the [ICC]. The Philippines can rejoin the ICC without returning to the Senate,” Drilon said in a statement.

The former justice secretary’s view challenged an earlier assertion by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who suggested that any move by the government to return to the ICC fold would require a majority approval by the senators.