The Filipino government will remain outside the legal defense of former President Duterte

Manila (Vietnam News/Ann): The Filipino government has announced that it will not intervene in the legal defense mounted by the supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte while facing charges of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The CPI established the confirmation of the position hearing on September 23 to allow Dute and all the parties involved to be “properly prepared” for the previous trial, as well as to recognize their “right to be judged within a reasonable time.”

“This is the time when your defense will really prepare. Maybe if you have witnesses, you can call them, make any statement or affidavit,” said the Undersecreta of the Palace Presidential Communications Office, Claire Castro.

She reiterated that the Filipino government had given Duterte the necessary assistance, including medical services and the “attention package”, from the moment it was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the city of Pasiy on March 11, until they send it to the Hague, the Netherlands.

She said the government will not assume the travel expenses of the witnesses of the Duterte camp.

Castro said the Duterte camp is able to send its own team to The Hague, since some of its allies, including former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Senator Robin Padilla, were there using their own money.

He added the assistance that the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands can extend to Duterte would not be mandatory.

However, he said that the Government would continue to monitor developments to keep the public updated.

Previously, the Philippines presidential office announced that the country’s police had executed an arrest warrant for Duterte issued by the ICC on its controversial anti -drug campaign during its presidency, which resulted in thousands of deaths. – Vietnam News/Ann