ICC complaint vs. Duterte mooted by Kian’s case: Roque

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announces during a press briefing in Malacañang on July 19, 2018 that the Landbank of the Philippines, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Agriculture have launched the Accessible and Sustainable Lending Program for Small Farmers. The program aims to increase the income of small farmers, especially the Agrarian Reform beneficiaries, by providing them with financial assistance for their agricultural needs at a low interest rate of 6% per annum. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PH

MANILA — The complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been disproved by the Caloocan City regional trial court’s verdict, convicting three police officers for the murder of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd delos Santos, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The Hague, Netherlands-based ICC was established as “a court of last resort” in extreme cases wherein national courts have become totally ineffective in providing justice to victims, Roque said in a statement issued Tuesday.

“In this case, Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. has clearly demonstrated to all and sundry that our courts are more than able and more than willing to take strong legal action against criminals,” he said.

Roque, the only Filipino lawyer allowed to practice as a defense counsel in the ICC, said the conviction of the policemen is proof that the Philippine judicial system is working, not needing intervention from the ICC under the Rome Statute.

“There’s absolutely no need for the ICC to waste time and resources on the complaint against Mr. Duterte,” he said.

The complaint before the ICC accused Duterte of crimes against humanity for deaths that have occurred as a result of the Philippine government’s war on illegal drugs.

The President on Monday also said he will not pardon the officers convicted of killing delos Santos in a purported drug operation.

“Of course not. Maybe one million years from now,” Duterte said, when asked by reporters if a pardon from him may be forthcoming.