Drug war victims to buck interim release for Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Victims of the previous administration’s war against illegal drugs will oppose any move to temporarily release former president Rodrigo Duterte while the proceedings against him are ongoing before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In an interview Tuesday with The STAR’s online show “Truth on the Line,” ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti expressed belief that the international tribunal will not grant any request for the “interim release” of the former president.

“He’s charged with the most, the gravest of crimes – crimes against humanity, one of the four main crimes of the court. The court has never allowed interim release for someone facing that kind of case,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “And of course, the victims will oppose that.”

Conti said the previous instance wherein the ICC granted interim release for a suspect involved a lesser offense, referring to the case of lawyer Paul Gicheru of Kenya, who was charged for allegedly bribing and intimidating witnesses.

Gicheru, now deceased, voluntarily surrendered to the tribunal.

Joel Butuyan, an ICC-accredited lawyer who also represents the drug war victims, earlier said it would be difficult for Duterte’s camp to secure an interim release for the former president.

“Generally, an application for interim release is denied,” he said in an earlier interview with “Storycon” on One News.

The victims, through a statement issued by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), said Duterte should “not be entitled to special treatment, considering that the detention facility is well-equipped to assist him.”

They cited the “great” risks of interference of the processes of the court.

“Victims believe he is a flight risk – he is running for mayor of Davao City – and a threat to the safety of witnesses and evidence, and will present these comments on any such petition in a timely and proper manner,” the NUPL said.

During her “Truth on the Line” interview, Conti said they are now preparing for the participation of the victims in the upcoming ICC proceedings.

ICC wants Tagalog, Cebuano transcribers

Ahead of the arrest of Duterte last week, the ICC has opened job applications for freelance transcribers of Filipino, Tagalog and Cebuano languages.

The job opening, posted on the ICC website on Jan. 28, seeks to establish a “roster of freelance transcribers” who may be offered contracts “for the provision of remote transcription services.”

They will work under the Language Services Unit (LSU) of the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor.

Based on the job posting, the transcribers will be required to produce “self-reviewed transcripts swiftly and accurately from audio or video recordings,” “consult with the LSU Transcription to clarify ambiguities, assist in building glossaries and provide feedback” and “apply the feedback provided by the LSU Transcription to ensure delivery of a quality product.”

Applicants should be proficient in listening to, understanding and writing Filipino, Tagalog and/or Cebuano. They should also have a working knowledge of English.

ICC said freelance transcriber “should preferably though not necessarily” hold a professional qualification in the field of languages or linguistics; have prior experience in transcription or any other language-related profession, ideally in a legal setting, and have experience using transcription hardware and software, as well as extranets.

Applicants must also have good computer and information technology skills, can apply attention to detail with information and data accuracy, respect information confidentiality and deliver the outputs on deadline.

Payments will be based on fixed rates, per work unit.

“Shortlisted candidates will be invited to sit a transcription accreditation test. Accreditation is subject to obtaining the necessary security clearance. Successful candidates will then be placed on a roster of accredited transcribers,” read the job listing.

“Accredited transcribers on the roster will be contacted for work assignments based on their acceptance of the applicable rates and terms and conditions, their availability and their suitability for a particular project based on their profile and experience, as well information security constraints. The ICC makes no absolute guarantee of freelance work,” it added.

The ICC also warned that audio or video material outsourced for transcription “may on occasion risk being of an upsetting or disturbing nature.”

Last year, the international tribunal also listed job openings for freelance translators of Filipino, Tagalog and Cebuano languages.

A recent press release from the ICC had Filipino and Cebuano translations.

On March 7, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issued an arrest warrant against Duterte.

Philippine authorities served the warrant to the former president and immediately surrendered him to the ICC on March 11. Duterte’s initial appearance hearing was held on March 14.

Government  protection

Meanwhile, NUPL urged the government to take decisive action in protecting the families of victims of former president Duterte’s drug war and their counsels who have been the targets of online trolls.

The human rights lawyers group made the plea to the government under President Marcos as it denounced what it said is an orchestrated campaign of disinformation, harassment and gender-based online violence against one of its members, Conti, as well as families of drug war victims.

Conti has been the subject of misogynistic attacks by Duterte’s supporters online after the former president was arrested on crimes against humanity filed before the international tribunal.– Evelyn Macairan