ICC call for translators ominous sign Duterte case is ‘moving forward’
Ads show ‘investigation is in full swing’ against ex-president’s bloody war on drugs
In what could be an ominous sign for Rodrigo Duterte, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has quietly put out a call for “freelance translators in Tagalog and Cebuano” – languages involved in the crimes against humanity trial the former Philippine president could face.
The ICC announced in 2016 it was following Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, but its interest seemed to wane in the following years. Advertisements for translators in late March show the case is still moving, with an observer suggesting there could be nudges from the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes said the move was “significant because it’s a clear indication that the investigation phase is in full swing”.
He added, “according to my information, the investigation is in its final stages and the [ICC’s] Office of the Prosecutor might file an application for a warrant of arrest soon thereafter”.
Harry Roque Jnr, former spokesman for Duterte and a human rights lawyer, also acknowledged that the call for translators indicated “that they’re moving forward”. He said Duterte had been consulting him on the case and he was standing as the former president’s lawyer “for all matters relating to the ICC”.
Political analyst Ronald Llamas said: “I don’t know if [Marcos Jnr] will bring the ICC case to a logical conclusion in order to serve an international warrant – but that could be part of his foreign policy, to rebrand his Marcos name.”
Ruben Carranza of the International Centre for Transitional Justice cautioned: “Even if a warrant or summons is issued by the court, serving the warrant or summons and transferring the person arrested will open legal issues. Even the issuance of a warrant can be appealed in certain cases.”
The ICC ads, which appeared in several online job sites, call for Tagalog and Cebuano translators to work at the language services section of the ICC’s office of the prosecutor. Those accepted will “produce self-reviewed translations covering a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, legal, military, medical, forensic, human rights, administrative and financial matters”.
Applicants are cautioned that “the content of what is to be interpreted may on occasion risk being of an upsetting or disturbing nature”.
Carranza said that “because the Philippine situation has reached the investigation stage, the ICC would have already needed more translators for documents to be filed in court and possibly interpreters if witnesses are being interviewed”.
The ICC case grew out of the main plank of Duterte’s presidency: his swaggering promise to violently eradicate the country’s alleged drug problem. From 2016 to 2022 state forces indulged in bloodshed that claimed thousands of lives, including those of dozens of children.
Dispensing with due process, police in multiple operations allegedly singled out, rounded up and arbitrarily murdered hundreds of suspects, accused criminals, and bystanders.
In 2019, when told a three-year-old girl had been shot dead by an officer, one of Duterte’s cronies, police general turned senator Ronald dela Rosa, shrugged and said, “s*** happens”.
Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde said that, as per the official figure of the Philippine police, 6,262 “drug personalities” were killed by law enforcers during Duterte’s six-year term.
In 2016, ICC’s then chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her organisation was closely tracking the government’s drug war. A year later, Filipino lawyer Jude Sabio filed a complaint at the ICC against the Duterte administration.
Duterte exploded in fury, threatening to pull the Philippines out of the ICC. He also resorted to crude and violent invective, calling Bensouda “that black woman” and vowing to throw a grenade at the ICC “so we’ll all go to hell together”.
In 2019, the Philippines did pull out of the ICC, and in 2021 Sabio, who withdrew his case, died of a heart attack, but the international court had already started moves to open a preliminary investigation.
Although many Filipinos backed Duterte’s war on drugs, a February survey by Octa Research showed
59 per cent of respondents supported the country rejoining the ICC, and 55 per cent said the government should cooperate with the ICC.
But it is not definite that the ICC investigation will lead to the issuance of arrest warrants and a trial.
Observers say the attitude of the current Philippine administration could determine how fast the case progresses.
While Marcos Jnr has said he opposes any foreign interference, such as ICC investigators coming to the country, this could change, as Carranza pointed out: “It is possible that the ICC prosecutor has asked for warrants – not just summons – but is waiting for a signal from Marcos Jnr that they will cooperate and serve those warrants. Which Marcos Jnr will of course weaponise in their contest versus the Dutertes.”