ICC names Filpino lawyers to represent drug war victims in Duterte case

National

THE pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially endorsed two Filipino human rights lawyers to represent at least 29 victims of the "war on drugs" as the court prepares for landmark hearings against former President Rodrigo Duterte next month.

In a 15-page ruling issued on Jan. 26, the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) I directed the ICC’s administrative unit to designate Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres as the common legal representatives. The duo will advocate for victims recognized by the court during the pretrial stage, including the upcoming confirmation of charges for crimes against humanity.

An Inquirer.net report stated that the appointments, which take effect immediately, align with the Rome Statute and the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence. These regulations guarantee victims the right to express their “views and concerns” throughout the judicial process.

Both Butuyan and Andres are registered with the ICC and have a history of assisting families in seeking legal remedies against the architects of the Duterte administration's drug war. The chamber highlighted their specific qualifications as a primary factor in the decision.

“The Chamber further observes that Mr. Butuyan and Mr. Andres’ competence, nationality, familiarity with the context of the commission of the alleged crimes, understanding of the victims’ situation and ability to meet with them in person in a language that they understand, represent some of the key qualities that applicant victims expect from their representatives,” the ruling stated.

The court further vouched for the lawyers' eligibility, noting they have no record of “inappropriate conduct” and possess no conflicts of interest regarding the case.

The legal team will represent 29 individuals during the confirmation of charges hearings scheduled to begin on Feb. 23. These victims were selected from a pool of 304 applications assessed by the PTC I, which were categorized into three distinct groups (A, B, and C) last year.

While the chamber authorized the 29 applicants under Group A and select individuals from Group C, it rejected others. The PTC noted that Group B applications were "clearly falling outside the temporal and/or material scope of the Duterte case.”

Additionally, the chamber denied participation for certain Group C applicants involving alleged murders outside of Davao City during Duterte’s mayoral term. The court ruled these incidents lacked a sufficient link to the specific charges currently being pursued by the prosecution.(Jhon Mark A. Aboabo, USJR Comm Intern)