The removal of what had been labeled as the “last stumbling block” in the trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte was labeled as a win from members of the co-counsel for the families of EJK victims in the Philippines.

Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares said that the decision of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Appeals Chamber ensured that Duterte would be subjected to trial for the case of crimes against humanity and face accountability for his drug-war.

“The Appeals Chamber decision affirming the jurisdiction of the ICC over the case of Pres. Duterte and denying Duterte’s move to dismiss the case was an important victory not only for the EJK victims in the Philippines but also for international accountability,” he said.

The human rights advocate expressed that had the court decided otherwise, it would have set a dangerous blueprint for dictators and human rights violators around the world to avoid liability through merely withdrawing from the criminal court.

In its decision promulgated on Wednesday, 22 April, the Appeals Chamber decided in a majority vote to reject the appeal submitted by the defense counsel of the former President to assert that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the accusations tackled in the proceedings.

However, according to its findings, the Chamber maintained that the alleged crimes had taken place between November 2011 to March 2019 wherein the Philippines was still classified as a State Party under the Rome Statute.

With the decision at hand, Colmenares also sought to denounce the notion carried by Nicholas Kaufman, the chief defense counsel of Duterte, that the ICC’s ruling was a mere ploy on the part of the criminal court to assert its authority amid pending threats of sanction from the United States.

“While Mr. Kaufman can publish legal arguments to oppose the decision, he should not be allowed to argue his opposition by imputing ill motives on the Court through non legal speculations,” he stated.

“We consider the decision as in furtherance of the fundamental principle of accountability of the Rome Statute rather than a legally baseless effort to preserve the ICCs existence,” he further expressed.

Colmenares explained that they were confident that the charges against the former President would be confirmed and that it would proceed to trial.

Regardless of the decision, the former solon said that the trial allowed for the voices of the victims to be heard with regards to how their relatives were violently slain in Duterte’s drug-war.