MANILA, Philippines – Mayroon umanong “compelling” argument ang kampo ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para ipanalo ang kaso ng International Criminal Court laban sa dating Pangulo.
Ayon kay Nicholas Kaufman, lead lawyer ni Duterte, umaasa siyang mapipigilan ang kaso bago pa kumpirmahin ng ICC ang mga reklamo laban kay Duterte sa paggiit ng argumento na hindi maaaring isagawa ng korte ang hurisdiksyon nito.
Aniya, ang pagkalas ng Pilipinas sa korte ay umepekto na bago pa ang awtorisasyon ng imbestigasyon.
Si Duterte ay nahaharap sa mga reklamong crimes against humanity dahil sa murder sa war on drugs ng kanyang administrasyon.
“Coming back to the jurisdictional point, obviously you don’t need to be the dean of a law faculty to realize that that’s going to be a huge issue at pre-trial,” sinabi ni British-Israeli lawyer Kaufman.
“I think that the jurisdictional argument is compelling as defense counsel. I believe that it should succeed and I would be hugely disappointed if it doesn’t succeed,” dagdag niya.
“We hope to persuade the judges pre-trial that it (the court) cannot exercise its jurisdiction over the case. There won’t be a confirmation-of-charges hearing if the judges rule in our favor.”
Matatandaan na itinakda sa Setyembre 23 ang confirmation of charges hearing.
Anang lead lawyer, ang isyu ng hurisdiksyon ay susi sa kasong ito.
“As the alleged conduct has taken place between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 on the territory of the Philippines, it falls within the Court’s jurisdiction,” depensa naman ng ICC tungkol dito. RNT/JGC
