'Habambuhay na?': Duterte could spend rest of his life in ICC jail, says Ortega

Former president Rodrigo Duterte (left), La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN) 

Employing simple arithmetic, La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V says former president Rodrigo Duterte could spend the rest of his life in prison at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the charge of crimes against humanity.

“He is facing 43 counts of murder in the crimes against humanity case. One conviction alone for each count (or killing) is more than enough to put him away,” Ortega said in a statement Monday morning, March 17.

Under ICC rules, a conviction for one count of murder alone can earn the former Philippine leader at least 30 years in jail at the minimum, or a life sentence at the maximum. The actual trial alone will take an average of five to six years. 

Duterte will turn 80 on March 28. He served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022, his signature campaign being the bloodbath that was the war on drugs.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) helped International Police (Interpol) members serve the ICC arrest warrant against Duterte in Manila last March 11. He was flown to The Hague--the site of the ICC--that same day.

“At least in ICC, we are assured of a very fair trial where nobody – both in the camp of Duterte or even the Philippine government – can exert any form of influence for the judges to rule in their favor. For one, judges were neither appointed by Duterte nor President Marcos,” Ortega pointed out. 

“So, even if you credit and apply, say the last five years of trial, then it would still be a net of 25 years. He will be 105 years old by then. And that is for one murder case alone,” Ortega explained. 

He said the ICC rules also provide that defendants should be present at all times, regardless of how long the trial takes. 

“Unlike in our case, where bail can sometimes be granted, there is no trial in absentia in ICC. He (Duterte) has to be there for the whole duration of the trial, just like everybody else,” the Luzon congressman said. 

Ortega said that what befell Duterte should serve as a lesson to world leaders. 

“We have to bear in mind that power is only temporary. Therefore, we should not abuse power because power is not forever. World leaders should avoid hubris but should rather practice humility. Presidents come and go, and even dictators fade away too,” he said.