THE HAGUE — Sinabi ni International Criminal Court (ICC) lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman na “expected” ang naging pasya ng tribunal na panatilihin ang hurisdiksyon nito sa kaso ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Ito ay matapos ibasura ng ICC Appeals Chamber ang apat na batayan na inihain upang kuwestiyunin ang kapangyarihan ng korte sa crimes against humanity case laban kay Duterte.
“I was not really surprised with today’s decision, I was even hinting at it yesterday,” pahayag ni Kaufman sa labas ng ICC.
Aniya, sinabi na rin niya noon kay Duterte na “not build up [his] hopes” para sa paborableng desisyon.
“When I met the former President, I said don’t build up your hopes and he was stoical,” ani Kaufman.
Iginiit din niya na kinakaharap ng ICC ang “the threat of sanctions from the United States” habang si Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan ay “is currently embattled and embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct.”
“The former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is the big catch of this court, and it was never really my impression that they would let him go that easily,” dagdag niya.
Sa kabila ng desisyon, sinabi ni Kaufman na nananatili siyang optimistiko na maaari pa ring ibasura ng Pre-Trial Chamber I ang mga kaso.
“If there is one thing you know about Atty. Nick Kaufman, I am a very optimistic guy. We made many persuasive arguments at the confirmation,” aniya.
“The evidentiary weaknesses we identified will be the very weaknesses that will lead to his acquittal,” dagdag pa niya.
Inaasahang maglalabas ng pasya ang ICC bago ang deadline sa Abril 28 kung ikukumpirma nito ang tatlong bilang ng crimes against humanity para sa murder at attempted murder laban kay Duterte. Dave Baluyot
