By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not blind to see the truth about the deadly anti-illegal drugs campaign launched by former President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
The Palace made the statement as Duterte’s defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, seeks to submit before the ICC the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ report on Duterte’s arrest, which was allegedly the result of “political maneuvering designed to politically cripple his family.”
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the submission of the Senate report on Duterte’s arrest would not be a good idea.
“Baka maging negatibo pa po sa kanila,” Castro said in a press briefing.
“Kung makikita po siguro ang pag-iimbestiga doon at makikita kung papaano ito ginawa, siguro hindi naman po bulag ang ICC judges para makita kung ano ba talaga iyong maaaring naging katotohanan dito.”
Castro, a lawyer, advised Duterte’s legal team to just focus on defending the former president.
She said Kaufman should do better in researching facts so as not to get lost, considering that the former president made a previous admission that he would “double the extrajudicial killings.”
“For the fees he has allegedly been demanding from his client, former President Rodrigo Duterte, he should do better than that,” Castro said.
“He should concentrate on his defenses. He should concentrate on the allegations and admissions of the former President of his killings and that he ordered the killings of some people in relation to war on drugs.”
She said she believes that the ICC would take care of Duterte, following the claim of his wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, that he is already “skin and bones.”
Duterte should take care of his health, she said, adding that all he needs to do is “exercise.”
“Saka mas maganda po talaga na natitingnan naman po ang kaniyang kalusugan doon mismo sa The Hague so hindi naman po pababayaan ang dating Pangulo doon,” Castro said.
Duterte is in the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s war on drugs from Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.
