By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The principal counsel of the Office of Public Counsel for Victims has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reject former president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for an interim release.
In a court document released Wednesday night, Principal Counsel Paolina Massida said Duterte’s interim release, if granted, would “endanger victims.”
“The release of Mr. Duterte will not only be a great destabilizing factor to the volatile security situation in the country as a whole, but will pose a direct and significant danger to the victims who have demonstrated courage in applying to participate in the present proceedings in order to contribute to the search for the truth, despite risks of being threatened or otherwise stigmatized,” it read.
Her office argued that the court must “take appropriate measures to protect the safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses.”
Duterte’s continued detention, it said, is the only way of ensuring that he will face trial.
“Indeed, victims are extremely concerned with the prospect that Mr. Duterte could be released, particularly because there is a real risk that they face threats from the Suspect and his supporters,” it added.
This submission follows a similar request from the Office of the Prosecutor for the ICC Pre-trial Chamber I to turn down Duterte’s plea. (PNA)
