A possible trial of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court could take a while, with ICC trials averaging up to 8 years, a lawyer said Tuesday.

“Kung trial lang, on the average, mayroon silang 8 years ng pagdinig. Average ‘yan. Nung nag-umpisa sila, maximum umabot ng 10 years,” Atty. Kristina Conti, assistant to the counsel for the ICC, said in a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview.

“Mahaba itong proseso. Para sa ibang nag-aabang, na baka bukas may hearing na, naku hinde,” she added.

Conti called for the immediate transfer of the former president to an ICC member state since the Philippines already withdrew from the ICC during Duterte’s presidency.

The lawyer noted it is the first time that a former president has been arrested in a former ICC member-state for crimes against humanity.   She added that she is confident the ICC Office of the Prosecutor would not ask for a warrant if there was not enough evidence to prove the accusations against Duterte.

“First time itong nangyayari. Wala tayong katulad na kaganapan…Ang pinaka safe dalhin na siya The Hague at doon ayusin ang bagay bagay,” she said.

She added: “Para sa amin, victory na na-madala siya sa trial. Bihira king makakakita ng ganun - presidente, mayaman, makapangyarihan nadala ng korte. Grabe ‘yung victory na ito sa mahihirap at inaapi.”

In the interview, she urged witnesses to come forward and testify about the extrajudicial killings committed during the Duterte drug war, including the alleged reward system for perpetrators. 

She also lashed out at former officials who are "whitewashing history", gaslighting victims of extrajudicial killings by questioning if the killings really took place.

"Aminin natin na ang pagpatay, itong extrajudicial killings ay mali. Ang tanong na lang, sino ang may kasalanan, paano ginawa..."