Kin of drug war victims believe ICC can address Duterte's needs — Conti
The families of drug war victims believe that the International Criminal Court (ICC) can provide for the needs of former President Rodrigo Duterte after he requested for an interim release to an undisclosed country on humanitarian considerations, ICC Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said Friday.
'Ang kanilang basehan, humanitarian. Kaya ito nga, nagko-konsultahan kami ng mga biktima. Sabi nila makatao lang rin naman. Oh sige kung gusto niyang kung saka-sakali magpagamot at maayos,' Conti told Super Radyo dzBB.
(Their basis is humanitarian. So yes, we are consulting the victims. They said it's only humane. Okay, if he wants to undergo treatment and recover, that's fine.)
'Pero sa tingin namin ngayon, 'yung ICC facilities ay kayang mag-arrange ng medical assistance sa kanya,' she added.
(But we believe that ICC facilities are currently capable of arranging medical assistance for him.)
This came after the Duterte camp asked the ICC for him to be released to an undisclosed country based on humanitarian considerations as he is 80 years old.
It said that the undisclosed country 'represents a stable and suitable environment" for Duterte.
When asked if age is a big consideration, Conti stressed that Duterte was previously declared fit for trial.
'As long as you are 'fit for trial,' meaning kaya mo tumayo, kaya mo makinig. Hindi ka naman— kumbaga, ano ito, nababaliw o nag space out, pwede ka pa mag-trial,' she said.
(As long as you're fit for trial, meaning you are able to stand and listen. And you're not, let's say mentally incapacitated or spacing out, you can still be tried.)
'Kung maalala ninyo sa huli nating pagkita sa kanya… Chineck ng doktor daw eh. Kaya sabi ng judge, na claim na 'yan, nasabi na 'yan ni Duterte 'di ba. Eh, sabi ng doktor fit for trial ka. Okay. Period,' she added.
(Remember his last appearance… He was supposedly checked by a doctor. So the judge said, that's already been claimed, Duterte himself mentioned it, right? And the doctor said he was fit for trial. Okay. Period.)
Self-serving
Meanwhile, Conti dismissed some of the claims made by the Duterte camp in their request for interim release as 'self-serving.'
Duterte's camp claimed that since the Chief Prosecutor's leave of absence, 'the Prosecution has confirmed its non-opposition to interim release… on the understanding that the terms and conditions set out in Annex A to this filing would be met.'
Duterte's camp also claimed that the receiving state had expressed its willingness to accept him.
'Hanggat hindi nagsasalita o kumu-kumpirma itong dalawang ito, eh sa ngayon serving 'yung mga statements na 'yan,' Conti told Super Radyo dzBB.
(As long as these two do not speak or confirm anything, for now, those statements remain self-serving.)
Conti added that the victims will be allowed to give their comment on Duterte's interim request.
'Magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na itong 'yung biktima ay magsalita at mag weigh in doon sa interim release. Inaalam namin ang deadline ng observations ng interim release,' she said.
(There will be an opportunity for the victim to speak and weigh in on the interim release. We are currently determining the deadline for submitting observations regarding the interim release.)
According to Conti, the conditions indicated under the annexes may be similar to previous conditions for conditional release.
''Yung hindi ka pwedeng lamyenda nang lamyenda, gala-gala. Nandoon ka lang sa isang lugar at hindi ka talaga kumbaga 'malaya.' Ikaw pa rin ay under detention at under custody ng state. At importante na present ka sa lahat ng hearing,' she said.
(You can't just keep roaming around or wandering. You have to stay in one place and you're not really 'free.' You're still under detention and under the custody of the state. And it's important that you're present at all the hearings.)
GMA News Online has reached out to the ICC for comment and confirmation.
Duterte is currently under ICC custody at The Hague, Netherlands. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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