Colmenares rejects ‘jokes’ defense over Duterte drug war remarks: 'People died'

Statements by former president Rodrigo Duterte—which he and his allies have described as jokes—cannot be dismissed lightly when thousands of people were killed during the administration’s anti-drug campaign, drug war victims’ lawyer Neri Colmenares said Monday.

“After those bombastic and exaggerated jokes, thousands died. They cannot simply be brushed aside as humor,” Colmenares told GMA Integrated News in an interview in The Hague.

“It would be different if no one had died, but thousands did. So the joke is no longer a joke. It was a serious threat to the right to life of many Filipinos,” he added.

Colmenares issued the statement in response to remarks by Duterte’s legal counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, during opening statements at Monday’s confirmation of charges hearing, where he said the former president made controversial remarks supposedly without criminal intent.

With such a narrative, the defense is now confronted with the challenge of presenting evidence to support Duterte’s supposed lack of criminal intent, Colmenares said.

“Ano ebidensiya niya na isasubmit na wala siyang intensiyon na may mamatay, gayong malinaw hindi lang sa kanyang mga pahayag kundi pati sa kanyang mga naging aksyon?” he said.

(What evidence will he (Duterte) submit to show he had no intention of anyone dying, when this is clear not only from his statements but also from his actions?)

The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber on Monday opened the confirmation of charges hearings against Duterte over alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings during his anti-drug campaign, covering periods when he served as mayor of Davao City and later as president.

Hearings are scheduled to continue on February 24, 26, and 27.—MCG, GMA Integrated News