(PNA) MANILA – The Philippines has strengthened its dedication to global disarmament and international norms against weapons of mass destruction with the enactment of a law banning the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said Monday.
“This law is not just about fulfilling our international obligation as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which our country signed more than three decades ago,” Estrada said, referring to Republic Act No. 12174, or the “Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act.”
“By enforcing this law, the Philippines is demonstrating its dedication to global disarmament, the elimination of chemical weapons, and compliance with international norms,” he said.
The measure was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on April 15, 2025 and uploaded to the Official Gazette on April 25.
Estrada, principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2871, said the passage of the law affirms the Philippines’ position as a responsible member of the international community advocating for peace, disarmament, and the protection of human rights.
“This law sends a powerful message that the use of chemical weapons is intolerable. It has no place in our society, and we’re showing the world that the Philippines values human rights, health, and the protection of every Filipino from toxic threats,” he said.
Estrada thanked his colleagues for supporting the complex and technical measure, stressing the Senate’s willingness to take on difficult issues “beyond our comfort zones and particular interests” in service of the Filipino people. (PNA)