Manila: Online attacks against an International Criminal Court (ICC) judge could be considered offenses against the administration of justice and potentially lead to additional charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte, a lawyer said Wednesday. In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, Attorney Kristina Conti, assistant to counsel at the ICC, warned that the social media harassment allegedly carried out by Duterte’s supporters could harm his case rather than help it.
According to Philippines News Agency, supporters of the former president appeared to have flooded the LinkedIn posts of ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc with comments, some urging her to release Duterte. Conti explained that such actions could be detrimental to Duterte’s case, as they could negatively impact public perception and be interpreted as an attempt to interfere with court proceedings.
Conti further elaborated that these attacks could be seen as offenses against the administration of justice, particularly if they involve intimidation or attempts to sway the judge’s decision improperly. She added that if the attacks are linked to Duterte’s influence, the court could take them into account as additional charges against him.
Duterte is currently under investigation by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on drugs. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court still holds jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a member.
Conti emphasized that intimidation and online harassment would not halt the legal process. She also concurred with the Department of Justice that the writ of habeas corpus filed by Duterte’s children is moot, as Duterte is no longer under Philippine custody. The ICC’s arrest warrant provides a sufficient legal basis for his detention, she noted.
Duterte was arrested last Tuesday after the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) served the ICC-issued arrest warrant. He was subsequently sent to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICC is based, on the same day.
