Drug War Victims To Buck Interim Release For Duterte; SWS Poll Says Most Filipinos Believe He Should Be Held Liable For Killings

Victims of the previous administration’s war against illegal drugs will oppose any move to temporarily release former president Rodrigo Duterte while the proceedings against him are ongoing before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In an interview with The Philippine STAR’s online show “Truth on the Line” on Tuesday, March 18, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti expressed belief that the international tribunal will not grant any request for the “interim release” of the former president.

“He’s charged with the most, the gravest of crimes – crimes against humanity, one of the four main crimes of the court. The court has never allowed interim release for someone facing that kind of case,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “And of course, the victims will oppose that.”

Conti said the previous instance wherein the ICC granted interim release for a suspect involved a lesser offense, referring to the case of lawyer Paul Gicheru of Kenya, who was charged for allegedly bribing and intimidating witnesses.

Gicheru, now deceased, voluntarily surrendered to the tribunal.

Joel Butuyan, an ICC-accredited lawyer who also represents the drug war victims, earlier said it would be difficult for Duterte’s camp to secure an interim release for the former president.

“Generally, an application for interim release is denied,” he said in an earlier interview with “Storycon” on One News.

The victims, through a statement issued by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), said Duterte should “not be entitled to special treatment, considering that the detention facility is well-equipped to assist him.”

They cited the “great” risks of interference of the processes of the court.

“Victims believe he is a flight risk – he is running for mayor of Davao City – and a threat to the safety of witnesses and evidence, and will present these comments on any such petition in a timely and proper manner,” the NUPL said.

During her “Truth on the Line” interview, Conti said they are now preparing for the participation of the victims in the upcoming ICC proceedings.

SWS poll

Most Filipinos believe Duterte should be held accountable for his bloody war on drugs, based on a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Conducted before Duterte’s arrest and turnover to the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity, the poll showed 51 percent of respondents agreed that Duterte should be held accountable for drug war killings.

Only 25 percent disagreed, while 14 percent were undecided.

Ten percent of respondents said they did not know enough to give an opinion on the matter.

The Feb. 15 to 19 survey commissioned by Stratbase Group did not ask respondents their preferred process of holding Duterte accountable.

A December 2023 SWS poll showed most Filipinos supported an ICC probe into drug-related killings during the Duterte administration.

In the latest survey, support for holding Duterte accountable was highest among respondents in the Visayas at 62 percent, followed by 49 percent in balance Luzon and 45 percent in Metro Manila.

Even in Duterte’s bailiwick Mindanao, 44 percent of respondents said they support holding him accountable.

Meanwhile, amid disinformation targeting ICC judges handling Duterte’s case, a lawyer for the victims maintained that the international tribunal is not swayed by public opinion.

“It doesn’t have any impact at all. The ICC is not a political body, it’s a judicial body. It’s only deciding based on the facts and the law. It’s not swayed by public opinion,” Gilbert Andres, executive director of Center for International Law, told NewsWatch Plus.

False claims about the judges and the case have been circulating online.

ICC wants Tagalog, Cebuano transcribers

Ahead of the arrest of Duterte last week, the ICC has opened job applications for freelance transcribers of Filipino, Tagalog and Cebuano languages.

The job opening, posted on the ICC website on Jan. 28, seeks to establish a “roster of freelance transcribers” who may be offered contracts “for the provision of remote transcription services.”

They will work under the Language Services Unit (LSU) of the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor.

Based on the job posting, the transcribers will be required to produce “self-reviewed transcripts swiftly and accurately from audio or video recordings,” “consult with the LSU Transcription to clarify ambiguities, assist in building glossaries and provide feedback” and “apply the feedback provided by the LSU Transcription to ensure delivery of a quality product.”

Applicants should be proficient in listening to, understanding and writing Filipino, Tagalog and/or Cebuano. They should also have a working knowledge of English.

ICC said freelance transcriber “should preferably though not necessarily” hold a professional qualification in the field of languages or linguistics; have prior experience in transcription or any other language-related profession, ideally in a legal setting, and have experience using transcription hardware and software, as well as extranets.

Applicants must also have good computer and information technology skills, can apply attention to detail with information and data accuracy, respect information confidentiality and de-liver the outputs on deadline.

Payments will be based on fixed rates, per work unit.

“Shortlisted candidates will be invited to sit a transcription accreditation test. Accreditation is subject to obtaining the necessary security clearance. Successful candidates will then be placed on a roster of accredited transcribers,” read the job listing.

“Accredited transcribers on the roster will be contacted for work assignments based on their acceptance of the applicable rates and terms and conditions, their availability and their suita-bility for a particular project based on their profile and experience, as well information security constraints. The ICC makes no absolute guarantee of freelance work,” it added.

The ICC also warned that audio or video material outsourced for transcription “may on occasion risk being of an upsetting or disturbing nature.”

Last year, the international tribunal also listed job openings for freelance translators of Filipino, Tagalog and Cebuano languages.

A recent press release from the ICC had Filipino and Cebuano translations.

On March 7, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issued an arrest warrant against Duterte.

Philippine authorities served the warrant to the former president and immediately surrendered him to the ICC on March 11. Duterte’s initial appearance hearing was held on March 14.

Gov’t protection

Meanwhile, NUPL urged the government to take decisive action in protecting the families of victims of former president Duterte’s drug war and their counsels who have been the targets of online trolls.

The human rights lawyers group made the plea to the government under President Marcos as it denounced what it said is an orchestrated campaign of disinformation, harassment and gender-based online violence against one of its members, Conti, as well as families of drug war victims.

Conti has been the subject of misogynistic attacks by Duterte’s supporters online after the former president was arrested on crimes against humanity filed before the international tribunal.

“It must support the ICC’s investigation, rejoin the court and take a stand for justice. The Philippines must break free from the legacy of impunity,” NUPL secretary general Josalee Deinla said in a statement.

Deinla said the attacks by Duterte’s network of trolls and enablers aim to silence those seeking justice and obstruct the proceedings before the ICC.

She said the threats and character assassination against Conti reflect a pattern or violence against women, particularly widows, mothers and daughters of drug war victims.

“This coordinated effort to weaponize gender-based violence against women in the legal profession and human rights advocacy must end,” Deinla said.

She also urged the ICC to ensure that all the people involved in the case against Duterte can speak and act without threat to their safety.

Fake news

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan denied a report on Wednesday, March 18, that there would be “special daily masses” at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral intended to pray for former president Duterte’s health and his return to the country.

In a one-page statement, Cabantan clarified that the 5:30 p.m. masses at the Cathedral, like other Eucharistic celebrations, are open to all.

“A recent report from a media outlet has claimed that the cathedral is holding a special daily mass for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s health and release back to the Philippines. We wish to categorically clarify that this is incorrect,” said Cabantan.

The mass, he added, “is never exclusive to any one person, group or political cause.” – With Emmanuel Tupas, Evelyn Macairan