ICC to lawyers: Raise issues in court, not media

MANILA, Philippines — Judges of the International Criminal Court have warned lawyers in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity case to raise issues before the ICC and not the media.

“The appropriate form for counsel to raise matters is in the courtroom. Trials are not conducted by the court of public opinion, but by this court during the course of proceedings,” ICC Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said yesterday.

Korner noted the statements made by Duterte’s former counsel Nicholas Kaufman, who she said was warned by the ICC pre-trial judges over his statements.

“Regrettably, that reminder had no effect,” Korner said, referring to Kaufman’s comments in April after the ICC Appeals Chamber denied their appeal on the issue of jurisdiction.

Korner reminded the media to avoid speculation and report to the public accurately and fairly what is said in court.

“This case has attracted, not surprisingly, a substantial amount of media interest in the Philippines… (It also) appears to have provoked suppliers of what undoubtedly is fake news,” the judge said.

‘Don’t get too excited’

Meanwhile, Malacañang has reminded President Marcos’ political opponents to not be too eager to take over the presidency, after Vice President Sara Duterte alluded to Marcos as a “bad weed.”

“Who has admitted to killing people? Who has admitted to stealing public funds? Who has admitted – and we think it runs in their blood – to having assassins? Who admitted to using marijuana when he was president? All of these were admitted by her father, so maybe the Vice President was accurate in describing her father as a bad weed,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said. — Helen Flores