No proven link between Duterte speeches and drug deaths — defense at ICC

No Link Found Defense Claims No Proven Connection Between Duterte's Speeches and Drug-Related Deaths

As the International Criminal Court (ICC) weighs its decision on whether to proceed with a trial against former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity charges related to his war on drugs, the defense has presented a compelling argument there is no proven link between Duterte's speeches and the murders he is accused of.

During a recent hearing, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman made a bold claim that the prosecution had failed to demonstrate a direct connection between Duterte's words and the alleged crimes. Kaufman emphasized that not one witness relevant to any of the 49 incidents with which Mr. Rodrigo Duterte is charged will testify that he received a direct order from the former president to go out and kill someone.

The defense's central argument is that there is no smoking gun in this case, no concrete evidence that directly links Duterte's speeches to the murders. Kaufman pointed out that the prosecution has failed to establish a causal nexus between the two, stating that the lack of evidence should be sufficient to convince any reasonable bystander that Rodrigo Duterte is innocent of these charges.

Critics may point to videos of Duterte threatening to murder alleged drug users and joking about his skills in extrajudicial killing. However, Kaufman argues that these were just a small part of a larger picture, cherry-picked by the prosecution to create a distorted view of Duterte's actions. He highlighted dozens of examples where Duterte stressed the need to act within the law, including quotes such as Do not kill if you are not in danger of losing your life.

The defense is not diminishing the tragedy and loss of life that has occurred during Duterte's presidency. Instead, they are seeking to shed light on the complexities of the situation and the lack of concrete evidence linking Duterte's speeches to the murders.

As the ICC deliberates its decision, it will be crucial for the court to carefully consider the defense's arguments and weigh the evidence presented by both sides. The stakes are high, and a wrong decision could have far-reaching consequences for those affected by the war on drugs.

In conclusion, while the war on drugs has resulted in thousands of deaths, there is currently no proven link between Duterte's speeches and these murders. The ICC must carefully consider the evidence and make an informed decision that takes into account both sides of the argument.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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