MANILA, Philippines — Inviting different attainable victims of the Duterte administration’s drug struggle to take part within the Worldwide Felony Courtroom (ICC) proceedings isn’t a sign of lack of witnesses or proof as supporters of the previous president want to make it seem, one of many attorneys representing the victims’ households stated yesterday.
“The prosecution is nicely on observe to provide proof towards Duterte. However victims’ utility is on till Aug. 3, 2025, and the investigation into the state of affairs within the Philippines continues. It’s a bit totally different from home processes,” ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti stated in response to a declare that the decision for victims’ participation exhibits that there is no such thing as a strong proof towards Rodrigo Duterte.
“Victims’ participation is totally different from victims as witnesses,” Conti burdened.
She clarified that the decision for victims’ participation isn’t related with the ICC Workplace of the Prosecutor, which is in command of prosecuting Duterte.
Not like the Philippine authorized system, the ICC permits the victims to take part individually within the proceedings.
“Victims who’ve suffered hurt in relation to crimes that fall throughout the jurisdiction of the Courtroom (on the state of affairs stage) or that fall throughout the scope of a case (in case proceedings) are entitled to take part in proceedings and, in case of conviction, to additionally request reparations,” the tribunal stated in its primer in regards to the case.
“The fitting to take part signifies that victims can current their views and issues to the Courtroom, at levels of proceedings thought-about acceptable by the Judges, the place their private pursuits are affected,” it added.
Victims are at the moment being represented by the ICC’s Workplace of Public Counsel for the Victims pending the identification of a typical authorized consultant.
Duterte has been in detention in The Hague since his arrest in March.