Drug war victims' kin welcome ICC rejection on challenge to jurisdiction

The families of drug war victims welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision that rejected the challenge to its jurisdiction by the defense counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte, ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said Friday.

“Aba syempre nagagalak dahil at least one question settled (Of course, we’re pleased because at least one question has been settled),” Conti said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

This came after the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 ruled that it can exercise its jurisdiction in the present case over the crimes alleged against Duterte that were committed in the Philippines while it was a state party.

“This is the most crucial issue. Kung walang jurisdiction, wala lahat itong mangyayari. In fact, walang magiging or walang iba pang pwedeng kasuhan,” she said. 

(This is the most crucial issue. If there’s no jurisdiction, none of this will happen. In fact, there will be no one else who can be charged.)

“So dito sa jurisdiction, May pa lang isinampa. Tapos in between nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang issue… ngayong finally settled, four [or] five months after, nakakahinga nang mas maluwag,” she added.

(So regarding jurisdiction, it was filed in May. Then in between, there were various issues… now that it’s finally settled, about four or five months after, we can finally breathe a little easier.)

She said the only question that remains is whether Duterte’s condition is well enough for the trial to proceed. 

The Pre-Trial Chamber has ordered a medical examination of Duterte amid his camp’s remark that he was “unfit for trial.”

According to Conti, the deadline for the experts’ report is on October 31 while the deadline for the comments or observations of the parties is on November 5.

The ICC has postponed the hearing on the confirmation charges against Duterte initially scheduled on September 23. —AOL, GMA Integrated News