Drug war victims dismayed over resetting of Duterte's ICC hearing

The victims of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war expressed their dismay over the order of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) to postpone the confirmation of charges hearing against the ex-chief executive initially scheduled on Sept. 23 to 26.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

A statement from the Rise Up for Life and for Rights and National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) on Tuesday, Sept. 9, said that they will “push for the resetting of the hearing soonest, and for any other available remedies.”

It argued that the former president, who his defense team said was not fit for trial as the reason for its adjournment request, can waive his right to be present in the hearing “per Rule 124 of the ICC Rules of Procedure and Evidence” and assign his lawyers to represent him.