Harry Roque seeking to postpone Rodrigo Duterte's ICC hearing, hopes to be his legal counsel
Hours before Rodrigo Duterte's first appearance before the International Criminal Court, Atty. Harry Roque said that they will try to postpone the hearing scheduled on March 14 at 9 p.m.
Speaking to reporters outside the ICC in The Hague, Duterte's former presidential spokesperson said, "May mga dahilan kami, pero susubukan naming ipaliban itong kauna-unahang pagdinig na ito. Pero itong dahilan namin ay pribadong ipararating sa mga mahistrado."
Duterte is set to appear before the three judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I, where he would need to verify his identity and decide on the language in which he would be able to follow the proceedings.
"Hindi ko po alam kung mapagbibigyan 'yung hinihiling namin na ipagpaliban, pero wala naman akong dahilan na naisip para hindi mapagbigyan 'yan kasi wala namang pupuntahan si Rodrigo Roa Duterte, nariyan na siya sa kulungan dito sa The Hague," he added.
"Buong araw kahapon, hindi siya nakita dahil di umano, siya ay binigyan ng medical examination. Ang problema dito sa ICC, ang daming papel bago mo lapitan, so we have just submitted the form to visit him para hindi namang kauna-unahang beses sila magkikita ni Vice President (Sara Duterte) dito sa hukuman," Roque said.
He emphasized that he wants Duterte and his daughter to see each other first so that they could have a private moment.
Roque noted how Duterte's former executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea, has now been recognized by the court as one of his counsels in the proceedings.
"Sa ngayon, iisa pa lang ang na-recognize na lawyer, si Atty. Medialdea, dahil siya nga 'yung kasama. Pero we have filled up all the documents para mapasama din ako doon sa team of counsels," Roque said.
He explained that there will be three of them standing as counsels, with British lawyer Nicholas Kaufman joining their legal team. Like Roque, he is also an accredited lawyer of the ICC.
The former spokesman admitted, however, that he isn't sure whether the criminal court would recognize him in time for the proceedings to start. Nevertheless, he asserted that he will bring the issue of the "illegality of the arrest of the former president that should lead to the court losing its jurisdiction."
Sara will meanwhile be present in the sidelines to witness the proceeding and support her father.
On her thoughts about the issue, Sara told the media that she is hopeful that they will be permitted to visit as they are already complying with all the documents the ICC has asked of them.
"We truly pray and hope that the court will listen to our request to move the initial hearing so that we can have time to sit down with the former president and discuss what are the ways forward," she said.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 and was brought to the Villamor Air Base upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.
As stated in the warrant obtained by The Philippine STAR, he was arrested for murder, torture, and rape—which are part of the 15 forms of crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute—in connection with his administration's bloody war on drugs called Oplan Tokhang that saw the execution of thousands of suspected drug peddlers, users, and small-time criminals.
Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
At his initial appearance, the three judges in the pre-trial chamber will confirm his identity and ensure he understands the charges against him.
Following this appearance, a confirmation of charges hearing will follow, during which the judges will decide whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
If the charges are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
