Withdrawal of Sabio communication vs Duterte at ICC has little effect, lawyer saysMANILA, Philippines (Update 2; 3:35 p.m.) — Lawyer Jude Sabio's withdrawal of his communication at the International Criminal Court has little effect on the court prosecutor's preliminary examination into alleged rights violations in the Duterte administration's 'war on drugs,' the lead counsel of the Philippine Coalition for the ICC said Tuesday. Jude Sabio ang inihain niyang reklamo na "crime against humanity" sa International Criminal Court laban kay Pres. This file photo shows the cover letter of the communication that Sabio filed with the International Criminal Court in April 2017. Sabio had accused Duterte in 2017 of "repeatedly, unchangingly and continuously" committing extrajudicial executions since 1988. In a statement, lawyer Romel Bagares, lead counsel of the Philippine Coalition for the ICC said that Sabio's communication "was largely irrelevant as it dealt with matters before Mr. Duterte became president."

Source: Philippine Star January 14, 2020 07:00 UTC