Palace: Justice rolling down after FPRRD faces ICC’s ‘fair’ pre-trial

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

ICC HQ Courtroom (Photo: ICC)

MANILA – Justice is “starting to roll down” after the International Criminal Court (ICC) held its “fair” pre-trial on former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug war case, Malacañang said on Saturday.

“This is what we call fair trial,” Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a statement when asked about the ICC’s pre-trial for Duterte’s alleged commission of crimes against humanity over his brutal war on illegal drugs.

“Witnessing the first appearance attended by FP (former president) Duterte before the ICC, everybody could see how justice starts to roll down,” she added.

Duterte was allowed to make his first appearance before the ICC via a video link on Friday night (Manila time) because of the “long journey involving a considerable time difference” that he made from the Philippines.

The ICC scheduled the next hearing to confirm Duterte’s charges on Sept. 23.

Castro said the ICC did not accept the plea to postpone Duterte’s first appearance as “there is no need and it is not yet the time for the suspect to present his defenses and evidence.”

“The judge even emphasized that the Court’s doctor gave the opinion that FP Duterte is fully mentally aware and fit and that he had undergone further checks and tests at the detention facility,” she said.

Duterte’s legal counsel, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, presented a manifestation during the pre-trial and told the chamber that Duterte was denied all access to legal recourse in the Philippines.

Medialdea added that Duterte has “debilitating medical issues” and his arrest and transfer to the ICC was a “gross abuse of process.”

Castro noted that contrary to statements made by Duterte’s camp, no less than the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber had confirmed that the former president was indeed afforded his fundamental rights as a suspect of crimes against humanity, specifically murder.

“It was also confirmed by the Court based on the report of the registry that FP Duterte was informed of his rights, including (Articles) 66 and 67 of the Rome Statute and he was aware of the warrant of arrest in the English language,” she said.

Articles 66 and 67 of the Rome Statute provide for the presumption of innocence and the rights of the accused.

Duterte was the subject of an arrest warrant by the ICC over the alleged crimes against humanity committed due to his drug war carried out between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 during his time as Davao City mayor and then Philippine president.

Duterte arrived in The Hague, The Netherlands on Wednesday night (Manila time) and was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen.