Former Associate Justice Carpio Speaks on ICC Trial of Ex-Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
ICC – Former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio expressed that the International Criminal Court will continue with the trial of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte whether or not the arrest is legal.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is currently under the custody of the International Criminal Court. He was arrested last Monday upon his arrival from Hong Kong. The Philippine National Police (PNP) acted on the arrest of the former President.
Malacañang claimed that the government’s commitment with the Interpol is the reason behind its role in the arrest of the former President. Duterte was flown en route for the Hague, Netherlands on the same day of his arrest.
The turn of events sparked countless headlines. Duterte supporters are calling for the government to bring the former President back home to the Philippines. There are also questions regarding the legality of the procedures in the arrest of the former President.
During the initial appearance of Duterte before the pre-trial chamber of the ICC last Friday, his legal counsel, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, raised to the ICC judges that the former President was allegedly unlawful.
Recently, former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio reacted to the issue on the legality of the arrest of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on a report on GMA News, the former Associate Justice believes that the ICC trial will continue whether or not the arrest of the former president is illegal.
According to Carpio, the lawyers of former Pres. Duterte have the right to ask about the legality of the arrest of the former President before the ICC but “they will not prosper”. Based on the report, he stressed that it will not hinder the international court to push through on hearing the accusations against Duterte.
“Whether the arrest is illegal or not, it will not deprive the ICC of jurisdiction to hear and decide on the complaint against former president Duterte,” the former Associate Justice said.
Furthermore, Carpio expressed that the ICC allegedly has nothing to do with alleged illegal arrest. Based on the report, he stressed that the rule is clear over the jurisdiction of the court on the personas surrendered to them.
“The rule in the ICC is very clear. Even if you are illegally arrested by the surrendering state, the ICC will still acquire jurisdiction of you when you are handed over to the ICC,” Carpio said.
The registered legal counsel of former Pres. Duterte is former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea. Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque also plans to seek asylum at Netherlands as he applied to be part of Duterte’s legal team.