ICC prosecutor says arrest of ex-President Duterte is 'important moment'

Manila Bulletin

The arrest of ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity is an "important moment" for international law, International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said Wednesday.  Khan acknowledged criticism that international law is sometimes seen as inconsequential, but said this arrest shows that "international law is not as weak as some may think."  "When we come together, when we work, when we build partnerships, the rule of law can prevail, warrants can be executed," he added.

Transcript

00:00The arrest of the former President of the Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is an

00:13important moment.

00:15The office has been investigating the situation of the Philippines for some time in relation

00:20to the so-called war on drugs.

00:22Last month, under the supervision of Deputy Prosecutor Manjay Niang, the team submitted

00:29a warrant application to the judges of the pretrial chamber.

00:34The judges have issued that warrant and it's been executed.

00:39In issuing the warrant, the judges have found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte

00:45has committed the crime of murder as the founder, as the head of the so-called Davao

00:55death squad, as the mayor of Davao City, and then later as the President of the Philippines

01:02between 2011 and 2019.

01:05And I think it's important to show that the office has been working with communities,

01:09with states, with international organizations, with other partners, to make sure that the

01:13investigation could be focused and could move as effectively as possible.

01:19And the fact that it's been executed is important to victims.

01:21It means a lot, I think, to victims.

01:23That's the feedback we've already received.

01:25And many say that international law is not as strong as we want, and I agree with that.

01:32But as I also repeatedly emphasize, international law is not as weak as some may think.

01:39When we come together, when we work, when we build partnerships, the rule of law can

01:45prevail, warrants can be executed.

01:48It's important to underline, as we now start a new stage of proceedings, that Mr. Duterte

01:56is presumed innocent.

01:58He will make his initial appearance before the court soon.

02:02And the focus of the office is on the judicial proceedings and on proving its case before

02:11the judges of the International Criminal Court.

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