EJK victims optimistic on Duterte ICC case developments — Conti

Victims of the bloody drug war are feeling optimistic over recent developments in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti.

“Positive. They feel very positive (about) the consistent position of the court that the trial should start by November 30," Conti told GMA News Online in a chance interview on Sunday.

“There have been additional status conference hearings. For us, that means the court wants to closely monitor the proceedings,” she added.

Conti represents the families of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims in the ICC proceedings against Duterte, who is currently detained at the ICC detention facility in Scheveningen, The Hague, in the Netherlands.

During the status conference on June 23, the ICC trial chamber directed Duterte to appear at the next status conference scheduled on September 7.

The ICC prosecution has also asked Trial Chamber III to extend the deadline for filing its observations on the expert report regarding Duterte’s fitness to stand trial.

However, Conti said one of the challenges they are facing now is reaching more victims so they can participate in the proceedings.

“As of now, one of our challenges is registering additional victims so they can be admitted and participate in the court proceedings. They need to go through an application and admission process, so we are still reaching out to other victims,” she said.

The charges of crimes against humanity cover killings allegedly committed during Duterte’s term as mayor of Davao City up to his presidency.

Government records show that more than 6,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations, although human rights groups estimate the death toll may have reached 30,000, citing unreported incidents.

Last April, two more EJK victims were laid to rest in a more dignified burial as proceedings against Duterte continued.— MCG, GMA News