Unang Pagharap Ni Duterte Sa ICC Pre-Trial Chamber, Bahagi Ng Due Process Na Ipinagkait Sa War on Drugs Victims

 



Nagbigay ng pahayag sina Atty. Neri Colmenares, isang abogado ng mga biktima, at Atty. Kristina Conti, isang assistant to counsel sa International Criminal Court (ICC), kaugnay ng unang pagharap ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Pre-Trial Chamber ng ICC.

 

Sa isang pahayag na inilabas ng dalawa nitong Biyernes, Marso 14, kanilang binanggit na ang pagkaaresto umano ni Duterte at ang kasalukuyang proseso sa ICC ay isang “incredible illustration” o magandang halimbawa kung paano dinala ang isang tao na pinaghihinalaan ng paggawa ng krimen sa mga awtoridad para sa pagdinig. Ayon sa kanila, ang unang pagharap ni Duterte sa ICC ay isang mahalagang pagkakataon upang tiyakin kung ang taong nasa kustodiya ay siya nga, at kung naiintindihan ni Duterte ang mga paratang na ibinabato sa kanya.

Tinutukoy rin nila na dapat tiyakin na si Duterte ay naipaliwanag sa kanya ang mga krimen na inaakusahan siya, pati na rin ang kanyang mga karapatan sa ilalim ng Rome Statute. Isa sa mga nabanggit nila ay ang karapatan ni Duterte na mag-apply para sa interim release o pansamantalang pagpapalaya habang isinasagawa ang paglilitis.

Gayunpaman, iginiit ng mga abogado na hindi dapat bigyan ng espesyal na trato si Duterte, lalo’t may mga mekanismo na ang detensyon na ginagamit ng ICC na kaya siyang suportahan at tiyakin na hindi ito magiging sanhi ng anumang panganib o makakasagabal sa mga legal na proseso ng korte.

Binigyang-diin din nila na ang pagkakataon ng unang pagharap ni Duterte sa ICC ay hindi lamang isang simpleng hakbang sa proseso, kundi isang mahalagang pagkakataon upang maipakita ang tunay na kahulugan ng due process. Ayon sa mga abogado, ito ay isang pagninilay sa mga biktima ng “war on drugs” na inilunsad ng nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan marami sa kanila ang hindi naranasan ang tamang due process at hustisya.

Isa sa mga layunin ng ICC sa pagdinig na ito ay tiyakin na si Duterte ay nakakakuha ng tamang proseso at hindi nakakaligtaan ang kanyang mga karapatan bilang isang akusado. Ang mga nasabing hakbang ay may layuning siguruhing magiging makatarungan ang paglilitis laban sa kanya at na ang mga biktima ng mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay magkakaroon ng tamang pagkakataon na maparusan ang mga may sala.

Ang unang pagharap ni Duterte sa Pre-Trial Chamber ng ICC ay nakatakdang maganap mamayang gabi, alas-9 ng gabi (oras sa Maynila). Ang kaganapang ito ay inaasahan ng mga sumusubaybay sa kaso at isang malaking hakbang sa mga legal na proseso patungkol sa mga akusasyon ng mga krimen laban sa sangkatauhan sa panahon ng kanyang administrasyon, lalo na sa kanyang laban kontra droga na nagresulta sa maraming biktima.

Sa kabuuan, ang mga pahayag nina Atty. Colmenares at Atty. Conti ay naglalayong magbigay ng liwanag sa mga isyu ng hustisya at karapatan ng mga biktima, at binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng isang makatarungan at tamang proseso para sa lahat ng akusado, kabilang na si dating Pangulong Duterte, sa harap ng ICC.

Con gái cựu Tổng thống Philippines lên tiếng bảo vệ cha, tiết lộ nơi ông bị giam giữ

First Appearance of Duterte at ICC Pre-Trial Chamber: A Step Towards Due Process for War on Drugs Victims

In a historic move, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber, marking a significant moment in the ongoing investigation into the alleged human rights violations during his administration’s controversial war on drugs. The case has long been a source of global concern, with thousands of deaths linked to the government’s aggressive anti-narcotics campaign, and this pre-trial hearing is seen as a crucial step in ensuring accountability and justice for the victims.

The ICC’s intervention in the matter comes after a lengthy investigation process that began with mounting international pressure and human rights reports documenting the widespread abuses under Duterte’s war on drugs. These abuses, many of which allegedly involved extrajudicial killings, have drawn condemnation from both domestic and international human rights organizations, as well as governments around the world. Despite the former president’s strong denouncement of the ICC’s jurisdiction over Philippine affairs, the court has maintained that it has the mandate to investigate crimes against humanity that occurred during the period in question.

Duterte’s appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber is part of the due process that has been afforded to both the accused and the victims of the war on drugs. The ICC’s role in this case is crucial in ensuring that victims of these alleged abuses are not denied their right to justice. The Pre-Trial Chamber’s involvement helps set the stage for an impartial examination of the evidence and the formulation of charges, based on the information available from the prosecution and the defense.

For many human rights advocates, this is an important step towards addressing the impunity that has surrounded the war on drugs. While Duterte’s administration claimed the campaign was aimed at eradicating illegal drugs and restoring public order, numerous reports have pointed to excessive use of force, killings without due process, and the targeting of marginalized communities, including the poor. These actions have raised serious concerns about violations of both national and international law.

The victims’ families, along with civil society groups, have long called for accountability, seeking justice for the lives lost in what they view as a systematic effort to suppress human rights. Duterte’s appearance in the ICC provides an opportunity for these victims to be heard and for the court to determine whether the actions taken during the war on drugs amount to crimes against humanity. Many hope that this will ultimately lead to a more transparent and fair judicial process, allowing the victims’ families to begin their healing journey.

This legal process highlights the importance of international legal institutions in providing checks and balances to ensure that no individual, regardless of position or power, is above the law. Duterte’s trial could have broader implications for the future of human rights in the Philippines and the world, serving as a reminder of the need for strong legal frameworks to protect the rights of all individuals, especially in the face of political power.

As the ICC continues its investigation, the eyes of the world will remain on the Philippines. The trial is not just a reflection of one man’s actions, but a critical moment for international justice and the fight for the rights of the victims of the war on drugs. It is a reminder that, in the pursuit of justice, due process is not a mere formality, but an essential component of ensuring accountability and protecting human dignity.