Former president Rodrigo Duterte wants proceedings on his crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court to move swiftly and without delay, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday (Manila time).
The 80-year-old Duterte expressed his desire to return home, fearing he could die in detention at The Hague, the Vice President said.
“He wants to go back to the Philippines. He said, ‘I am an old man. I can die anytime. But I want to die in my country,’” Sara said, relaying her father’s message following a recent visit.
“He said, ‘Everything I did, I did for my country. (I don’t know) whether that statement is acceptable or not, but I want it out to the world,’” she added.
Rodrigo’s lead defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, said the defense team is now complete and they are preparing to file motions to dismiss the case as well as exploring the possibility of seeking an interim release.
“The core team is now fully completed… [The names] should be released in a public filing,” Kaufman said.
“Harry is seeking political asylum in The Netherlands and that would be wholly incompatible with employment at the Court. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” he added.
The Vice President, for her part, said she will soon fly back to the Philippines as the defense team of her father has already been finalized.
“My job here is done,” she said.
“Everything is organized with the lawyers. And there is already a system for the family with regard to visiting here in the detention unit. And the last document that was needed of me, I delivered it this morning to the person inside who asked for it,” the Vice President said.
She said the family has already arranged a visitation schedule for the next two months and that her youngest sister, Veronica, will be staying in the Netherlands.
She said her father’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and Rep. Paolo Duterte are also expected to visit following the approval of the latter’s visa.
The ICC Prosecutor has so far turned over 181 pieces of evidence to Duterte’s legal team. While specific details have not been disclosed, the prosecution confirmed the evidence is directly tied to the warrant of arrest issued against the former president.
Loved ones of alleged victims of Duterte’s “war on drugs” are hoping for “truth and justice,” their lawyer said on Friday.
The reverberations from Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign that killed thousands are still being felt today in the poor communities that bore the brunt, lawyer Gilbert Andres told Agence France-Presse in an interview.
“They want their voices to be heard,” said Andres, who represents victims at the ICC and is likely to play a pivotal role in an eventual trial for Duterte.
There is a chance victims would be compensated financially if Duterte were to be convicted for the crime against humanity of murder, “but more importantly, it’s really truth and justice,” he said.
Duterte faces ICC charges of 43 murders as a crime against humanity, but Gilbert said this number was just “emblematic” and many more victims and families were expected to come forward.
While Duterte currently faces just one ICC charge, Gilbert revealed that victims are hoping the prosecutor will add more charges to the accusations.
“There were numerous and massive instances of arbitrary detention that occurred side-by-side with the murders of their relatives,” said the lawyer.
“There are specific instances of arbitrary detention and the victims hope that it will also be included in the document containing charges,” he added. With AFP
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Detained Duterte wants no delay in ICC case, fears dying at the Hague.”