Rallies, fake info won't distract ICC in Duterte trial, spokesperson says

Demonstrations in The Hague in support of former President Rodrigo Duterte and those urging that he be made accountable for the killings in his war on drugs will not affect the International Criminal Court which is slated to try him for crimes against humanity, a spokesperson has said.

According to Mariz Umali's exclusive report on "24 Oras," ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said, "We do not consider that this should be something that would be kind of distracting our focus from what we have to do which is our core tasks and core responsibility."

Abadallah said the ICC's core responsibility towards the victims and toward the international community, was to apply the law objectively and impartially.

The ICC official said that the court was aware of the disinformation and satire posts on social media against the judges. 

“And we trust that in the social media there will always be some passionate and heated individuals. And we understand that there is also good people that will be actually trying to show the objective nature of things,” the ICC spokesperson said. 

“I think the main and important thing is that we are all focused on only one thing, which is delivering justice in the best conditions for the victims and to ensure that truth is revealed about the guilt or innocence of any person who is accused,” he added. 

But such posts would not affect the ICC’s decision, Abdallah said. 

“We have to understand that the judges can only decide based on what is presented before them, either by the prosecution or by the victim's lawyers or by the defense lawyers. So they are not taking into account any other elements that are not in the files before them,” Abdallah said.

“So this type of action is showing support to certain suspects, but it's not part of the findings before the judges.” 

Abdallah asked for trust in the process of the ICC. 

“We have to respect the process. It's not about being passionate. It's about being objective and impartial and applying the law and checking the evidence thoroughly and ensuring that the rights of the defense are respected and that the rights of the victims are respected,” he said. 

Duterte on March 13 (Philippine time) entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison where he is set to be held while awaiting trial.

The next hearing on the ICC 's confirmation of the charges has been set for September 23, 2025. –Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News