Brace for online attacks amid Duterte's ICC defense hearing, victims' kin told

THE HAGUE – On the eve of Day 3 of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti warned the kin of drug war victims to prepare for expected online attacks.

Such attacks, Conti said, are also likely against civil society organizations and the media covering the ICC proceedings. The public, she said, should be ready for this.

"Defense's submission of arguments will run the whole day. Please expect the same type of statements that you heard during their opening statements. But definitely, please expect attacks against victims, calling them fake and denigrating their pain," Atty. Kristina Conti said during the Duterte Panagutin Network's EDSA@40 commemoration protest in The Hague city center on Wednesday.

Conti also asked the public to prepare for what Duterte supporters would do, as "calling out [the media and civil society organizations] as purveyors of fake news, fake information, false analysis, false total numbers, fake reports."

"When everything is staged, what is true? Clearly, we need to set the line. Truth always must depend on facts," Conti said.

READ — DAY IN COURT: ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte

Before Conti's speech, Sheerah Escudero and Llore Pasco, relatives of alleged victims of Duterte's drug war, also stood up and called on everyone to support their cause.

"Hindi ganitong kadali [ang naging laban namin], pero sa wakas, narito na kami (Our fight has not been an easy on, but we are here at last)," Pasco said. 

"Sa pangalawang araw ng confirmation of charges ni Duterte, nakakasilip na kami ng kaunting liwanag. Sana magpatuloy pa ito, at sana kahit matapos ay samahan niyo pa rin po kami," Pasco added.

(On the second day of Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing, we are able to see a glimmer of hope. We hope this will continue, and that you will still walk with us until the end.)

Duterte's lawyers, led by his counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, will submit the merits of their defense before the Pre-Trial Chamber judges today. — VDV, GMA Integrated News