Cheyenne Suarez

Claire Castro reacts to Duterte lawyer tagging Marcos in ICC hearing

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Palace Press Office Claire Castro criticized Duterte lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman for tagging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in his opening statement at the International Criminal Court’s confirmation of charges hearing against ex-president Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.</p><p>Speaking to DZMM, Castro said Marcos had nothing to do with the crimes of humanity charges against Duterte, saying the case was filed by critics with the ICC nine years ago.  </p><p>“2017 naka-file na ang mga kaso na ‘yan sa ICC. At the time…private citizen pa si Pangulong Marcos Jr. Kung may kasalanan at nandiya-diyan sa ICC ito si dating Pangulong Duterte kasalanan niya ‘yan dahil siya ang itinuturo na mastermind, architect na madugo, na karumaldumal, na extrajudicial killings. So sino ba ang pumupunta sa pamumulitika?” she said.</p><p>She added Kaufman should just stick to defending his client who had “admitted numerous times to killing people.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IgAfKPyesvY?&amp;t=259s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>She noted at least one of Duterte’s Filipino lawyers, Atty. Silvestre Bello III, who is currently in The Hague, had admitted that Duterte once killed someone by throwing him off a helicopter.</p><p>“Mismo isang lawyer si Atty. Silvestre Belio III, siya mismo sa isang interview umaming may pinatay si dating Pangulong Duterte. Inamin niya yan at ang pagpatay nito ang tao na hinagis o tinulak sa helicopter. Inamin niya yan. So mismo lawyer niya diyan umamin na pumapatay si dating Pangulong Duterte,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/29/16/duterte-says-he-once-threw-man-from-helicopter-would-do-it-again">Duterte says he once threw man from helicopter, would do it again</a></div><p>She said even Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong admitted that extrajudicial killings had a negative effect because it targeted not just drug addicts but political rivals.</p><p>“Paano sisirain ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang kanyang legasiya? Anong legasiya niya? Pagpapatay. Kung pagpapatay ‘yan, di lang si Pangulong Marcos dapat sumira dyan. Hustisya,” she said.</p><p>During his opening statement, Kaufman accused Marcos of setting to neutralize Duterte and his legacy, saying the President reneged on his word that his government “would not assist the ICC in any way, shape and form.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpO-M9O-en8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>He also claimed he has a transcript of a four-way call in which one of the parties allegedly bragged that Marcos was &quot;funnelling witnesses to the ICC.&quot;</p><p>In the interview, Castro again debunked accusations that Duterte was &quot;kidnapped&quot; by the government, stating that the administration was following Republic Act 9851 which allows the surrender of Filipinos facing charges before international tribunals. </p><p>She also noted Duterte once bragged that he is willing to be arrested if the ICC issues a warrant.</p><p>She accused Kaufman of using politics as a defense, pointing out that the defense lawyer never once denied that Duterte had killed people. </p><p>“Marami kasing nabanggit ng instances ang prosecution. Tapos ang binabanggit lang ni Kaufman, cherry picking, hyperbole, kasalanan ng media, masyado magaganda ang larawan ng family grieving. Tapos ibinabato niya sa Pangulo. Wala siyang depensa. So dapat as a lawyer, hanapan niya ito na magandang depensa dahil never niya dineny na pumatay si dating Pangulo Duterte. Tingnan mo doon sa kanya mga statements. Wala siyang denial.&quot;</p>

<p>Palace Press Office Claire Castro said lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman should just stick to defending his client who had “admitted numerous times to killing people.”</p>

Palace Press Office Claire Castro said lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman should just stick to defending his client who had “admitted numerous times to killing people.”