Palace’s Castro: Did Duterte lawyers admit to crimes in request for interim release?

MANILA — Did the lawyers of former President Rodrigo Duterte admit that the former Philippine leader committed crimes in formally requesting the International Criminal Court for his interim release?

This was the question asked by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, noting the wording of the request.

Duterte’s defense team in their request assured the court that he “will not continue to commit crimes” in asking the ICC to grant him temporary release to an unspecified country.

Interim release from ICC sought for detained Duterte

“Unang-una nabasa natin na parang iki-claim po nila o ilalagay po nila sa kanilang petition na 'Mr. Duterte will not imperil proceedings, if released. Mr. Duterte will not continue to commit crimes',“ Castro said during her briefing in Malacañang.         

“So, in one way or another, the counsel admitted that the President, the former President, had committed such crimes. Just a question. Because they will include that in their motion or petition that Mr. Duterte will not continue to commit crimes. So may pag-amin ba dito?” she asked.

The wording did not escape the notice of users on social media who asked similar questions.

PALACE: PH WILL RESPECT ICC'S DECISION ON RELEASE BID

The 80-year old former Philippine leader is in ICC custody in The Hague for crimes against humanity connected to his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Castro says it is up to the International Criminal Court to decide on Duterte’s petition for interim release, adding that Malacañang will respect the decision of the tribunal.

“Anyway, if that's their strategy, sana lang po ay mapaniwala nila yung mga ICC judges at huwag nilang masabi later na ang kanilang mga pinangako dahil may mga pangako sa kanilang petition — ay masabing nagbibiro lang sila at tulad ng nangyari sa pangako sa jetski,” the Palace official said.

Meanwhile, victims of Duterte’s so called war on drugs reacted to the defense’ team’s request to ICC.

Human rights lawyer and ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti posted a statement online expressing their concern regarding Duterte’s request.

“Magkahalong galit, pangamba, at katanungan ang nararamdaman ngayon ng mga pamilya ng biktima ng war on drugs sa balitang apila para sa interim release ni Duterte na nakakulong ngayon sa facility ng International Criminal Court (ICC) sa The Hague, Netherlands,” the statement read.

Releasing Duterte poses a threat to the victims and their case, they said.

“Mapanganib ang apila na ito ng interim release dahil malaki ang posibilidad na gamitin ito ng kanyang pamilya na makapagsalita sa publiko sa loob at labas ng bansa upang makaiwas sa pananagutan. Ito ay kanilang paggigiit upang matatakasan ni Duterte ang pananagutan sa kanyang krimen  laban sa sangkatauhan…  Umaasa ang mga pamilya na huwag sanang mangyari ang interim release ni Duterte, dahil nakakatakot kung ito ay mapagbibigyan.”

The camp of the prosecution said Duterte is also lucky to be undergoing due process unlike victims of extra judicial killings.

“Maswerte si Duterte dahil may due process siyang tinatamasa kahit nakakulong.  At ang apila para sa interim release ay malinaw na ayaw nilang panagutan ang mga paglabag sa karapatan ng taong bayan. Habang ang mga pamilya ng mga wala pa ring hustisya na nakakamit.”

“Naniniwala kami na magdudulot lamang ng pangamba sa mga pamilya ng biktima kung mapagbigyan ng interim release ang na arestong dating pangulo.  Ang kanyang pansamantalang paglaya ay pagkakataon upang makakapag maneobra upang tugisin, takutin, ligaligin ang mga naghahangad ng katarungan.”

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