ICC rejects victims' request to use Tagalog in parts of opening statement in Duterte trial - GMA Network

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III that will hear the crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected the counsel for the victims' request that portions of their opening statement be delivered in Tagalog.

This was one of the measures that the trial chamber decided in its fifth pre-trial conference at the ICC in The Hague. Duterte was not present at the conference on Monday after the court granted the defense's request that he not attend.

Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said allowing Tagalog—which is not among the ICC’s official languages—would complicate victim applications and significantly increase trial costs because of translation requirements.“One of the problems is the moment we start doing this, then applications come, and it becomes much more complicated and more expensive if we accede to it," Korner said.

"So while we understand that… you want the victims to relate to what's being said, all of it, as I understand it, is that correct, will be translated in any event, interpreted?” Korner said.

“I’m afraid, as I say for a number of reasons, we’re going to follow what the Rome Statute has mandated, and it must all be in English,” Korner said.

Massida noted that the use of Tagalog would be strictly limited to quoting victims and would not be used throughout the entire opening statement.

“We are not requesting to speak for one hour in Tagalog. Our request is more during the opening statement; we will make some remarks in quoting parts of [the] narrative that victims provided to us, and we’d like to do that in Tagalog,” Massidda explained.

“For them, it is important to listen out, convey to the Chamber what they narrated to us, and, by experience, they relate and connect much more if that is done in Tagalog,” she added.

In her estimation, Massidda said the use of Tagalog in their opening statement was expected to last no more than 15 to 20 minutes.

Under the Rome Statute, the official languages of the ICC are English and French.

Meanwhile, during the status conference, Duterte’s defense counsel, Peter Haynes, expressed that he also intends to deliver a statement at the start of the case.

“I’m inclined to say something at the start of the case. We will certainly finalize that position within the next few days,” Haynes said. –NB, GMA News