Lawyer who sued Duterte at ICC for crimes against humanity launches Senate bid

Lawyer Jude Sabio, who sued President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing crimes against humanity over the thousands of deaths in his drug war, is running for the Senate in the 2019 polls.

Sabio’s certificate of candidacy was filed by Rogelio Doydora, liaison officer of Sabio’s law firm.

Doydora, who presented his special power of attorney in filing the COC on Sabio's behalf, said that Sabio could not file his COC personally for security reasons.

“May banta po sa kanyang buhay pero nandito lang po siya sa Maynila,” he said.

Doydora added that Sabio is running as an independent candidate.

“Wala naman pong naguudyok sa kanya [sa mga partido na tumakbo]. Gusto lang po niya makatulong sa mga biktima ng extra-judicial killings,” Doydora said.

“Importante po na magkaboses ang mga biktima ng extrajudicial killings se Senado kasi kung hindi, makakalimutan na lang ‘yan. Di po siya pulitikong tao. Gusto niya lang makatulong sa mga biktima,” he added.

The ICC is already conducting preliminary examination into Duterte based on the complaint filed by Sabio in May 2017.

Sabio is the counsel of self-confessed hit man and Davao Death Squad member, Edgar Matobato.

Matobato has testified in a Senate probe that he killed people on Duterte's orders when the President was mayor of Davao City. — BM, GMA News