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Duterte innocent of crimes against humanity, says former accuser Sabio


Lawyer Jude Sabio said Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte is not guilty of any crimes against humanity.

His statement came after he expressed his intention to withdraw the communication he filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding crimes against humanity in the Philippines.

"When I filed that communication, I relied on the testimony of [Edgar] Matobato and [Arturo] Lascañas who demonstrate that there was a system that was being conducted in Davao that was expanded later on when President Duterte became president but with what happened in the Bikoy scandal, I began to question. I began to raise serious doubts about the contents of that communication," Sabio said in a news forum held in Quezon City.

 

Photo by Dona Magsino
Photo by Dona Magsino

"Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus (Falsity in one falsity in all). Based on the pattern, it is very likely also that there is a serious doubt about the testimony of Matobato and Lascañas," he added.

Matabato was a self-confessed "hitman" and member of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), while Lascañas was a retired Davao City cop who testified that the said organization responsible for several killings in Davao really exists.

Sabio disclosed that in April 2019, then Senator Antonio Trillanes IV tried to recruit him as a lawyer of Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be the "Bikoy" in the controversial video series "Ang Totoong Narcolist"—which Sabio said was part of the opposition's propaganda campaign against Duterte.

He said that he turned down the offer, lamenting that he was not even paid the P700,000 due for the services he rendered when he lawyered for Matobato.

"They had the gall and temerity to recruit me as lawyer for alias Bikoy in order to achieve their political agenda, which is to undermine and topple President Duterte so that Vice President [Leni] Robredo would become President, and yet earlier for the cases of Matobato, I was the victim of 'lingla' or fraud, leaving my professional billing unpaid by them up to now," Sabio indicated in the manifestation of withdrawal which he is set to personally file with the ICC.

"Considering that I went to the ICC for justice, I do not want my communication to be used further by them for their political agenda," he added.

Trillanes had denied links to the release of the videos of alias "Bikoy."

The former senator said that Advincula approached him, claiming to be able to expose a drug syndicate, but that he did not take Advincula up on his offer as the latter did not pass their vetting process.

Moreover, Sabio pointed out the communication he filed to the ICC in April 2017 was a "product of his legal work as an independent lawyer" and that he is convinced that the "interest of justice" in the case has already been defeated because of the alleged propaganda of the opposition.

"In my view, the President is not guilty, in line with what happened in the Bikoy incident," Sabio said.

In light of the turn of events, Sabio said he will no longer pursue any case on the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country which are being linked to the administration's crackdown on illegal drugs.

"In my 25 years of practice, trabaho kong maghanap ng hustisya pero wala na akong balak diyan sa kaso na 'yan kung ang nandiyan pa rin itong sila Trillanes at ang oposisyon na 'yan. Wala na akong balak diyan kasi nga ang ginagawa nila nakasisira lang sa kasong iyan," he said.

'Not for sale'

Sabio was quick to dismiss speculations that he was paid to withdraw the communication he filed to the ICC.

"I will deny categorically any insinuation that I received any amount for this withdrawal. To tell you honestly, I am not for sale," he said.

"Puro na lang pera. Kapag mayroon kang ginawa na nakakagimbal laging sinasabi nagkakapera ka. Huwag naman tayong ganiyan. Hindi naman tayo for sale," he added.

Likewise, Sabio said lawyer Larry Gadon will accompany him to The Hague to personally file his manifestation of withdrawal of communication to the ICC.

He said the expenses will be shouldered by Gadon, the legal counsel of "Bikoy" who is now a witness in a sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police against Vice President Leni Robredo and some members of the political opposition.

Asked whether he would still push through with the withdrawal despite the ICC's statement that it will have no bearing on the ongoing preliminary examination, Sabio said: "I have a right to withdraw my communication. Whatever happens to it, the fact remains that that was my communication." —LBG, GMA News

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