New Pinoy ICC-accredited lawyer to join Rody case?

A newly accredited Filipino lawyer for the International Criminal Court (ICC) disclosed that she may technically join the prosecution team handling the crimes against humanity case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Attorney Ross Tugade, a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law, said Sunday that her recent admission to the tribunal’s list of accredited lawyers makes it possible for her to assist in the case at a later stage, though she cited that the decision would depend on the consensus and strategic plan of the victims’ community.

“Because I am already admitted to the list, I can — at a later stage of the case — become part of it,” Tugade said in a radio interview.

“But I think it’s going to be dependent on the strategy and what’s the consensus of the victim community that’s already been represented in the ICC,” she added.

Tugade, who is completing her Ph.D. studies in Australia, said that prior to her accreditation, she had already been assisting fellow Filipino ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti in research and technical aspects of the drug war cases as part of the Duterte Panagutin Network.

With extensive experience in human rights and international criminal law, Tugade believes her best contribution would be through her background in building crimes against humanity and war crimes cases, along with her specialized training in ICC procedure.

Tugade dismissed the recent argument from Duterte’s camp — that ICC prosecutors are attempting a “back-door” appeal to revive jurisdiction over the Philippines following its 2019 withdrawal from the tribunal — as simply “noise.”

She asserted her alignment with the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision, which maintains the court’s jurisdiction over the crimes related to the drug war that occurred from 1 November 2011 through 16 March 2019.

“I believe, and in alignment with what the chamber has already said during the previous jurisdictional challenge, the ICC still has jurisdiction to continue the investigation, which is now focused on Mr. Duterte as a suspect,” Tugade said.

She added that the case has not yet reached the phase of confirming charges against the former President.