Binalikan ni International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Julian Nicholls ang pahayag ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte tungkol sa umano’y pagbagsak nito.

Ani Duterte, “I know, I will have my own downfall. I cannot be President forever. I know that they will demand to answer for all this dead.” 

Kaya sa closing statement ni Nicholls sa ikaapat na araw ng confirmation of charges hearing nitong Biyernes, Pebrero 27, sinang-ayunan niya ang pahayag na ito ng dating Pangulo.

“He was right when he spoke those words. He must answer for the dead. The victims demand it, justice demands it,” saad ni Nicholls.

Dagdag pa niya, “For the purpose of confirmation, the evidence demands it. We have proven it to the level for this to be bound over for trial.

Kaufman, nagsumamong ‘wag kumpirmahin mga kaso ni FPRRD

Samantala, sa isang bahagi naman ng closing statement ni Nicholls, kinuwestiyon niya ang pagiging inosente ni Duterte matapos niyang ipresenta ang talumpati nito sa ginanap na thanksgiving party sa Hong Kong noong Marso 9, 2025, ilang araw bago arestuhin ang dating Pangulo para ikulong sa The Hague, Netherlands.

"Assuming na totoo, totoo talaga ‘yong naririnig ninyo, bakit ko ginawa ‘yan? Para sa sarili ko? Para sa pamilya ko? Para sa inyo at sa inyong mga anak sa aking bayan," saad ni Duterte sa nasabing talumpati. 

Kaya ani Nicholls, “What innocent person ever said, 'Assuming I commit all these murders, it was for a good reason.' That's what they [the Defense] would like you to believe.”

“And he [Duterte] says he did it, not for himself, not for his family, but for the Filipino people, and it's obvious what he's talking about. He's talking about the murders,” dugtong pa ng ICC Prosecutor.

Maki-Balita: ICC prosecutor, kinuwestiyon pagiging inosente ni Duterte