EJK victims’ kin hopeful as ICC confirmation hearings on Duterte advance

Families of victims of the drug war expressed hope that former President Rodrigo Duterte will be brought to trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing sufficient evidence against him.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on "24 Oras" Tuesday, some relatives of the victims traveled to the Netherlands to closely monitor developments in the proceedings.

“Yung kapatid ko pinatay. Di ko akalain na mangyayari ito nung namatay siya binaril. Ang inaasahan ko mabigyang justice ang lahat, nakalapag lahat ng ginawa niya. Mga tanga lang ang di naniniwala,” said Jessica Albos.

(My sibling was killed. I never imagined this would happen back when he was shot and died. What I’m hoping for is that everyone gets justice and that everything he [Duterte] did is laid out. Only fools wouldn't believe it.)

Although her sibling was not included among the listed victims of the drug war, Albos said she is grateful to see the support that families are receiving.

“Hindi ko alam na magkakaroon ako ng chance na makakapunta rito,” she added.

(I didn't know I would ever have the chance to come here.)

“Pumunta kami nung Sunday, naiyak ako sa mga ginawa nung mga nandito, kasi pinagtatanggol nila, I mean may justice din.”

(We arrived on Sunday; I was moved to tears by what the people here were doing, because they are defending [the victims]—I mean, there really is justice.)

Albos was unable to enter the courtroom yesterday but said she would try again to witness the proceedings.

Neri Colmenares, the lawyer for the victims, believes the Prosecution can prove there is enough evidence to proceed to the trial proper.

The Prosecution has an hour and a half to continue presenting its merits today, while the victims’ legal team also has an hour and a half to submit their evidence and testimonies.

“Ang Prosecution was able to lay down the charges at ang ebidensya na ipi-present nila. Doon magkakaroon ng oportunidad ang mga biktima para maglahad ng kanilang ebidensya at mga kwento kung paanong karumal-dumal at walang awang pinaslang ang kanilang kaanak,” Colmenares said.

(The Prosecution was able to lay down the charges and the evidence they will present. That is where the victims will have the opportunity to present their evidence and the stories of how their relatives were brutally and mercilessly murdered.)

Cristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, said the confirmation of charges is expected to proceed to trial proper.

“For me the prosecution is trial-ready,” she said. “I'm quite happy that the concept that the war on drugs is a massacre of the poor got into the record of the court. Para sakin malaking punto na ‘yun,” she said.

(For me, the prosecution is trial-ready. I'm quite happy that the concept that the war on drugs is a massacre of the poor got into the record of the court. For me, that is already a major point.)

Duterte’s allies, however, argued that the Prosecution’s statements add nothing new and rely largely on hearsay.

Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the ICC’s jurisdiction should be addressed first.

“Kasi hanggang ngayon, hindi nila nare-resolve ‘yun and yet, nagsimula ang confirmation of charges,” he said.

(Because until now, they haven't resolved that [the issue of jurisdiction], and yet, the confirmation of charges has already begun.)

Meanwhile, Nicholas Kaufman, legal counsel to Duterte, insisted that the former president is not a criminal.

“I don't think he was a criminal at all. I think he was a hero,” he said.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News