ICC counsel: Drug war victims' kin hope Duterte arrest will lead to trial

Families of drug war victims welcomed Tuesday the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, almost seven years since their complaint was filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC), their lawyer said.

In an interview on Balitanghali, ICC Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said she and her clients hope that this will lead to trial.  

"Siyempre natuwa kami na sang ayon doon sa naunang pahayag ng Presidente [Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos]. Sabi niya, hayaan namin na investigate ng ICC at kung kinakailangan na implement ang isang warrant of arrest ay gagawin namin. Eh 'di nagbunga," she said.

(Of course, we are happy because this is in line with the initial statement of President [Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr]. He said he would allow the ICC to investigate and, if needed, they will implement the arrest warrant. This bore fruit.)

"Inaasahan namin na magtutuloy-tuloy na ito ng trial (We hope that this will lead to his trial)," she added.

Conti's statements came shortly after Malacañang confirmed that Duterte is now under the custody of authorities after getting arrested for crimes against humanity.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said a prosecutor from the ICC had served the arrest warrant against him upon the former president's arrival from Hong Kong.

In 2018, relatives of victims and religious group Rise Up for Life and for Rights filed a complaint against Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity.

According to Conti, Duterte should be brought to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

However, she said this depends on certain factors such as availability of flights as well as the accused's safety and security.

"Pero dapat talaga ilipad na 'yan papunta sa The Hague (However, he should be immediately brought to The Hague)," she said.

She said that the average period of trial in the ICC is eight years.

"Depende din 'yan kung gaano ka litigious o gaano ka co-contest ng Duterte camp 'yung mga charges sa kanya," she said.

(It also depends on how litigious the Duterte camp will contest the charges against him.)

Government records show that there were at least 6,200 drug suspects killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021, but several human rights groups have refuted this and say that the number may have reached as much as 30,000 due to unreported related killings.

Answered prayers

Meanwhile, the People's Impeachment Movement (PIM), an interfaith group supporting drug war victims' kin, said Duterte's arrest is a crucial step towards attaining justice.

"Ang pagpapalabas ng arrest warrant ng ICC laban kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay importante at napakalaking hakbang tungo sa pagbibigay ng hustisya para sa libu-libong biktima ng EJKs (extrajudicial killings) na dulot ng kanyang madugong giyera kontra iligal na droga," Catholic priest and Fr. Flavie Villanueva of the PIM said.

(The issuance of the ICC warrant against Duterte is an important and a huge step towards bringing justice to the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings or EJKs due to the bloody war on drugs.)

Villanueva is also the head of Program Paghilom which provides holistic support to families of EJK victims, such as psychosocial assistance, legal aid, livelihood opportunities, and dignified burials for victims whose families cannot afford proper interment.

The PIM also called on the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to stand by its earlier pronouncement that it will cooperate with Interpol in enforcing Duterte's arrest so he can be held accountable for his crimes against the Filipino people.

"Ito na ang inaabangang yugto ng mga pamilya ng EJK victims na naghihintay pa rin ng katarungan sa sinapit ng kanilang mahal sa buhay. Patunay rin ito na walang sinasanto ang batas, kahit dati ka pang pangulo ng bansa," Fr. Bong Sarabia of PIM, a co-filer of the third impeachment complaint against VP Sara.

(This is what the victims of the drug war killings have been waiting for. This proves that there is no sacred cow in the eyes of the law, even if you are a former president.)

A survivor of the drug war killings, Da (not her real name), said, "Ito na po ang sagot sa ilang taong pinagdarasal naming katarungan para sa mga napaslang naming mga asawa at kapatid."

(This is the answer to our years of prayers, asking for justice for our slain spouses and siblings.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News