Duterte camp says ICC violated time limit for probe —VP Sara

The camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte has questioned the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in handling his case, according to Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Vice President made the remark during her visit to the Filipino community in Kuwait on Friday.

“Meron po silang finile yung pag-question ng jurisdiction ng korte sa kaso ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Simple lang ang sinasabi nila. Nag-imbestiga kayo, lampas na ang isang taon na pwede kayo mag-imbestiga. Dumaan ang isang taon bago kayo nagsimula mag-imbestiga. Kaya hindi na yan puwede,” the Vice President said.

(They filed a motion questioning the court's jurisdiction over the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. What they’re saying is simple: You conducted an investigation, but it was beyond the one-year period allowed for you to do so. A year had already passed before you even began investigating. So now, it’s no longer valid.)

The Duterte elder was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11 on charges of crimes against humanity for his deadly war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines.

He is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague.

Government records showed that there were over 6,000 drug suspects killed in police operations during the previous administration's drug war. Human rights organizations, however, said that the death toll may have reached 30,000 due to unreported incidents.

The Vice President also said that if there is no period of investigation, the accused could be probed for his entire life.

TIMELINE: The Philippines and the ICC

Earlier this month, the elder Duterte's defense team asked the Appeals Chamber of the ICC to disqualify Prosecutor Karim Khan from the case on the grounds that he "failed to disclose a grievous conflict of interest."

In July, the ICC granted Duterte's request to suspend the tribunal’s decision on his request for interim release until his defense lawyers have collated all the needed supporting information.

“Nahanap yun ng mga abogado ni dating Pangulong Duterte at nag-file sila ng request for interim release lalong-lalo na dahil sa kanyang edad na 80 years old,” the Vice President said, referring to the country for his father’s interim release.

(Former President Duterte’s lawyers identified the country and filed a request for interim release, especially considering he is 80 years old.)

However, the younger Duterte did not reveal the country during her speech.

Rogrido’s condition

The younger Duterte also said her father is in good condition but has gotten thinner.

“Ito yung mga pinakapayat niya na nakita ko sa buong buhay ko,” the Vice President said.

“Binabantayan ang kanyang kinakain at binabantayan ang kanyang timbang ng doktor. Kaya ako naman, tiwala ako sa doktor na kapag sinabi ng doktor, okay lang yan, ay okay lang yan,” she added.

(This is the thinnest I’ve ever seen him in my entire life. The doctor is monitoring what he eats and keeping track of his weight. I trust the doctor, so if he says he’s okay, then he’s okay.) — BM, GMA Integrated News