ARGO (STUDENT’S CHOICE: DOCUMENTARY)
Summary:
American diplomats were held as hostages by the Iran revolutionaries after the US
government did not grant their request to return their Shah. Six of them were able to escape
and found refuge in the Canadian embassador’s residence. However, the revolutionaries
suspected that the Canadian government is aiding the US diplomats and the former also don't
want to compromise the relations of their states with the Iran government. The US planned to
exfiltrate the diplomats through the idea of a CIA agent who is an expert in exfiltration. They
come up with pretending to be a Canadian filmmaker who were looking for a nice site for the
movie "Argo", a science fantasy adventures. The CIA agent was able to enter in Iran and
met the escapees. He gave them fake passports and identities. Tensions rose at the airport
when the guards took their passports and confirmation whether they are legitimate actors was
made only at the last second before their flight coming back to US.
Legal Concepts/ Themes/ Deviations with Philippine Law:
International Law; Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges; Personal Inviolability
The hostage taking of the US diplomats by the Iranian revolutionist was made when a
group of militarized Iranian college students sieged the US embassy. Embassies are
extensions of territorial jurisdiction of a estate, hence, the latter exercise personal
inviolability. Such diplomatic immunity carries with it, among other diplomatic privileges
and immunities, personal inviolability, inviolability of the official's properties, exemption
from local jurisdiction, and exemption from taxation and customs duties. 1 This doctrine was
violated be the Iranian militants when United States’ embassy staff and diplomats who were
taken captive.
Pacta sunt servanda / International Agreements/ treatises
The revolution of the Iranian started when the US president did not grant the request of
the Iran government request to return back their Shah , who was having a cancer treatment in
US. Iranian want their Shah to be prosecuted in their country of the crimes he committed
during his reign but the US granted asylum for him. The protesters want to US not to get
involved or to encroach in dealing with their affairs. 2 Foreign policy are being respected by
the Philippines anchored to our Constitution, specifically the precepts that the country’s
relations with the other states the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty ,
territoriall integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination, and that the country
adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all
nations.3 The Philippines adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part
1
G.R. No. L-35131 November 29, 1972
2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_and_causes_of_the_Iranian_Revolution
3
Executive Order No. 57, E.O. No. 220, R.A. No. 10022
of the law of the land.4 the principle pacta sunt servanda, mandates that every treat in force
is binding in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them in good
faith.5 The circumstances happened during the 1979 Revolution of Iran most likely not to
happen in the Philippines, because we offer no armed resistance to any conflicts with other
states like in dealing with our territory.6
International cooperation
The hostage crisis exemplified the international cooperation by the some states, US, Canada,
Great Britain and New Zealand. It was the Great Britain who initially offered refuge for the
escapee but due to not safe location, they went to the residence of the Canadian Ambassador.
It was the New Zealand diplomats who helped the escapees to secure thier tickes going back
to US. Nowadays, Philippines is receiving different helps/ aids from different international
organizations used in funding/providing financial, medical, and other different assistance by
our country. Some countries extended their help in calamity problems, like the Yolanda
typhoon and now, the Covid 19 pandemic. International cooperation provides viable,
forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a
globalized world.7
Reflections:
Numbers of treatises, MOAs, and agreements were signed and Philippines is a
participant and members thereof, notably the free trade agreements with other neighboring
countries. We bound ourselves through our presidents and lawmakers and we made sure that
we dont violate any of them. Aggression and invasion against us might have occurred but we
are guided by the laws and rules in dealing with it. We went and go to proper court/s , ICJ,
where we invoke our rights in our territories.
4
Section 2, Article II, Constitution
5
As codified in Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties
6
The Republic of the Philippines v. The People's Republic of China
7
G.R. No. 152318 April 16, 2009
