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Families of alleged drug war victims welcome ICC decision on Duterte’s fitness to stand trial | ANC

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Joel Butuyan (left) PHOTO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GIlbert Andres (right) PHOTO PNA

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MANILA, Philippines – A pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has endorsed two Filipino lawyers to represent at least 29 drug war victims in the pretrial stage, including hearings for the confirmation of crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte next month.

The Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) I, in a decision on Jan. 26, directed the ICC’s administrative unit to designate human rights lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres to be the common legal representatives for all the victims that the court would officially recognize for participation in the case.

Their new role, which takes effect once the decision is issued, is in line with the Rome Statute and the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which guarantee victims the right to express their “views and concerns.”

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Butuyan and Andres, both of whom are registered in the ICC, have been assisting victims and their families in filing cases and seeking legal remedies against those behind the so-called war on drugs waged by Duterte.

READ: It’s on: ICC finds Duterte fit for trial

“The Chamber further observes that Mr. Butuyan and Mr. Andres’ competence, nationality, familiarity with the context of the commission of the alleged crimes, understanding of the victims’ situation and ability to meet with them in person in a language that they understand, represent some of the key qualities that applicant victims expect from their representatives,” it said in the 15-page ruling.

The court also vouched for their eligibility as they have no record of “inappropriate conduct” and do not have any conflict of interest in the case.

Butuyan and Andres will represent at least 29 individuals who were recognized as victims in the confirmation of charges hearings that are set to begin on Feb. 23.

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READ: ICC accepts more ‘victims’ of Duterte

Of the 304 total applications assessed by the PTC I, 35 applications that were categorized into three groups were submitted Iast year: 15 under Group A, 10 under Group B, and another 10 applications under Group C. The 15 applications under Group A were introduced on behalf of 29 individuals.

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The chamber, however, authorized the 29 applicants under Group A and an unspecified number of select applicants under Group C.

In the same decision on Monday, the PTC noted the Group B applications “as clearly falling outside the temporal and/or material scope of the Duterte case.”

Group C applications were also subcatergorized into four, and those identified with alleged murders or attempted murders, which occurred outside of Davao City during the mayoral term of Duterte and not covered by the prosecution’s document containing charges, were rejected from participating in the case for having insufficient link to the case. /dl

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