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Lawyer Sabio: Duterte’s ‘EJK sin’ remark can be used against him in ICC case


Lawyer Jude Sabio, who filed a complaint  with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Rodrigo Duterte, on Friday said the chief executive's recent statement on extrajudicial killings can be used against him before the Hague-based tribunal.

In an interview on radio dzBB, Sabio said "magagamit talaga iyan" against the President, referring to a speech Duterte made before new career government officials in Malacañang, in which he said: "Ang kasalanan ko lang 'yung mga extrajudicial killing."

"Kinumpirma lang niya na siya (Duterte) ay isang killer," Sabio added.

 

 

Sabio said Duterte's "admission" was proof that the Philippine government is incapable of investigating him, saying only the ICC can prosecute him.

"Itong pag-amin ni Pangulong Duterte ay isang katibayan na hindi talaga maiimbestigahan," he said.

"Imposible na iimbestigahan siya ng gobyerno kaya magkakaroon ng tinatawag na complementarity," Sabio added.

Sabio's communication is one of two communications filed calling for Duterte's indictment for alleged thousands of extrajudicial killings in the course of the campaign. The other communication was filed by activists and alleged victims of the goverment's drug war.

Acting on the first communication, the ICC prosecutor in February opened a preliminary examination to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter and a full-blown investigation would serve the interests of justice and of the victims.

Duterte responded by withdrawing the Philippines’ membership in the ICC in March, citing the “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous” attacks against him and his administration. — MDM, GMA News

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