HINILING ng pamilya Duterte sa mga tagasuporta nila na dapat igalang ang proseso ng korte at walang sinuman ang dapat na makialam sa desisyon ng International Criminal Court (ICC) kaugnay sa kasong kinakaharap ni dating Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte.
Lubos ang pasasalamat ng dating Pangulo sa patuloy na suporta ng mga Pilipino mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa at mundo. Ayon sa kanyang legal counsel na si Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, hindi ito lingid sa kaalaman ng pamilya Duterte.
Gayunpaman, may mahalaga silang hiling sa publiko—isang panawagan para sa respeto sa legal na proseso.
“The family want me to convey a message that the judicial process must be respected. There must be absolutely no interference with the independence of the court, with the judges, and all the parties,” ayon kay Atty. Nicholas Kaufman.
Binigyang-diin ni Kaufman na sensitibo ang bawat kasong dinidinig sa ICC. Maraming panig ang sangkot sa proseso, kabilang ang prosekusyon, depensa, at pati na rin ang mga biktima.
“Every case of the International Criminal Court is a highly charged case from the principal’s point of view. There are participants in the process. That’s the prosecution. There’s defense. And also there are the victims. The victims’ counsel will make their submissions in court. There are rights to make their submission must be respected,” saad ni Atty. Kaufman.
Nagbabala rin si Kaufman na anumang uri ng panghihimasok o hindi paggalang sa proseso ng ICC ay maaaring magdulot ng negatibong epekto sa kaso.
“Well, it can have a negative impact on the proceedings if, as I said the media, all the supporters turn against the judicial process. The judicial process must be respected. As I have said this issue is subject to intense debate in the Philippines. But lets just put politics in one side. And judicial process on the other side,”ani Kaufman.
Samantala, nang tanungin kung may posibilidad na maibasura ang kaso bago ang confirmation hearing sa Setyembre, iginiit ni Kaufman na nasa kamay ito ng mga hukom.
Pero, matibay aniya ang posisyon ng kanilang kampo—kulang sa hurisdiksyon ang ICC para litisin ang kaso, lalo’t umatras na ang Pilipinas sa Rome Statute.
“It’s the judges to decide when to hear that argument. Obviously I would like it to be heard first of all. I believe that we are in competing arguments and I will seek to persuade the judges but the people who decide at the end of the day are the judges themselves. It’s not my job to presume anything here. I believe there is a strong argument for the lack of ability to exercise jurisdiction given the Philippines withdraw from the Rome Statute. I hope that the judges will accept my submission,” wika ni Kaufman.
Bukod dito, pinag-aaralan na rin ng kampo ni Duterte ang posibilidad ng pansamantalang paglaya ng dating Pangulo habang nililitis ang kaso.
“Once again, interim release is a complex process. We are considering it. We will file it at an appropriate time,” saad nito.
Tungkol naman kay ICC prosecutor Atty. Kareem Khan, inamin ni Kaufman na matagal na niyang kilala ito.
“I’ve never works with Kareem Khan on a case together. I know Kareem Khan for many years. He has a similar background to the background that I have working in international tribunal for many years. I was a former prosecutor, so was he. So we both work on the both sides of the tennis court if I can put it that way,” sabi ni Kaufman.
Gayunpaman, umaasa siyang magiging patas si Khan sa paghawak ng kaso.
“I respect him. I hope that he will be fair. I have no reason to doubt that he would be extremely fair in his process. I look forward to working opposite him in the court,” ayon kay Kaufman.
Sa huli, tiniyak ni Kaufman na nasa maayos na kalagayan si dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC detention center.
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