Gov’t won’t oppose De Lima’s intention to testify at Duterte ICC trial

Former President Rodrigo Duterte (left)  and former Senator Leila De Lima (INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday said it will not oppose former senator Leila de Lima’s intention to testify in the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Siguro kung iyan po naman po ay kaniyang boluntaryong gagawin at kung siya naman po ay papayagan sa ICC sa pamuno po ng prosecutors sa ICC, hindi naman po tayo tututol diyan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(Maybe if she voluntarily does that and is allowed by the ICC under the leadership of its prosecutors, we will not oppose it.)

At a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday, Atty. Dino de Leon said de Lima already submitted evidence to the ICC and is ready to testify if summoned.

“Si Senator Leila de Lima ay willing mag-cooperate sa ICC,” he said.

(Senator Leila de Lima is willing to cooperate with the ICC.)

“Matatandaan natin si Senator Leila de Lima ang unang-unang nagpa-imbestiga sa Davao Death Squad,” de Leon added.

(Senator Leila de Lima was the first to have the Davao Death Squad investigated.)

“Ang kanyang sinabi ay kailangan sugpuin ang droga pero hindi sagot ang malawakang patayan,” he added.

(She said that illegal drugs must be eradicated, but widespread killings are not the solution.)

Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong on March 11 and was flown to the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, on the same day.

He made his first appearance before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I on March 14, where he was informed of his charges and rights under the ICC Rome Statute.

The Duterte administration’s drug war claimed at least 6,000 lives, according to official government data. 

Human rights watchdogs, however, estimated the death toll from the drug war to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.