A third case, which did not involve Mr. Duterte, concerned the alleged torture of Matobato by a group of policemen led by SPO1 Reynante Medina. “Among the complementary provisions before (the complaint) can be admitted by the ICC is that no investigation had yet been conducted dealing with the crimes of President Duterte,” Trillanes said. The senator, a staunch critic of Mr. Duterte, was referring to the ICC’s principle of complementarity in which the court will only prosecute an individual if states were unable to do so. A well-placed source confirmed to reporters that fact-finding investigators tasked to gather evidence to build up the case had initiated a formal complaint for preliminary investigation. At the preliminary investigation stage, respondents are allowed to refute the charges against them after which the Ombudsman decides if there is probable cause to file appropriate charges for a court trial.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 01, 2017 23:15 UTC