ICC prosecutor urges swift hiring of Interpreters for Duterte trial broadcast

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor and Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls on Wednesday requested the tribunal to hasten the hiring of interpreters for the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte so that it may be broadcast in Tagalog.

This developed amid the ICC Registry’s concerns with interpretation. The Registry said that some witnesses in the case would be speaking in two languages.

“My understanding is that nothing can happen after the confirmation decision, but I just wonder if it can be sped up because six months is a long time. Some of the feedback that we received, that my friends representing victims would know better, is that… there’s a lot of interest in this case in the Philippines,” Nicholls said during the case’s first status conference.

“And having it not broadcast — I know that’s not the main point and we don’t always do that — but it would be much, much better for the population and the victims and people interested in this case if it could be broadcast in Tagalog or the other languages,” he added.

Nicholls said that though they may begin with English-speaking witnesses, some individuals may be unable to keep up with the trial as well as they should.

“That would be a shame. I think part of what we try to do here is make this accessible to the population,” he said.
In response, ICC Trial Chamber III Judge Joanna Korner expressed surprise, saying she was under the impression that most Filipinos spoke English.

Nicholls, however, said the Prosecution received feedback that some communities where the victims originated from may not have a good command of the language.

“It may be that most people do — I again defer to my friends — but some of the poorer community, where many of the victims are from, do not have a good command,” he said.

Korner later noted the request. She also said that the court system must have ready and trained interpreters.

Duterte is facing charges for crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder over alleged killings during his time as Davao mayor and president.

The Trial Chamber on Wednesday held the first status conference, where it tackled the commencement date of the trial and deadlines leading up to the trial, the anticipated evidence, agreed facts, the languages to be used by the parties, and disclosure obligations, among others.

The 81-year-old former official was again a no-show after the chamber granted his right to be present. –NB, GMA News