Human rights groups with relatives of children and minors killed during anti-drug war operations put up a “rage shrine” with photos of the victims and toys in a protest action at the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon City on July 19, 2019 a few days before President Duterte’s SONA. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A lawmaker on Monday accused Vice President Sara Duterte of "downplaying" the bloody drug war of her father former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of crime against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Prosecutors send first set of evidence to Duterte defense

Over the weekend, the Vice President, who is in The Hague, Netherlands to assemble her father's legal team, challenged those who filed the ICC case to name the 30,000 allegedly killed in the war on drugs, noting that the prosecution only had around "181 pieces of evidence" to back their case. 

She also called the lawyers of the prosecution "stupid."

"Her dismissive remarks on the ICC investigation are not only insensitive but reveal a dangerous disregard for human rights and justice," Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a statement.

According to Brosas, the evidence submitted to The Hague-based court was meant to prove a "systematic pattern of state-sponsored violence that claimed thousands of lives, mostly from poor communities."

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"Ang 43 na kaso ay hindi lang basta numero. Ito ay 43 na pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay," Brosas said. 

The lawmaker said that the true mark of stupidity was putting odd names as recipient of confidential funds, a reference to VP Duterte's corruption issue. 

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"Instead of calling others stupid, Vice President Sara should look at her own issues. Ang totoong rurok ng kainutilan ay yung maglagay ng pangalan ng chichirya at grocery items bilang recipient ng confidential funds... VP Duterte should address her own controversies before attempting to dismiss serious human rights investigations," Brosas said. 

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Kristina Conti, an ICC-accredited assistant to counsel, on Sunday said VP Duterte may have been misguided in her legal opinion since international law was not her specialty as a lawyer.

Duterte's case not just about number of victims, but also systematic manner of killing: lawyer

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares also called out VP Duterte's challenge and lectured her about what the Rome Statute requires to prove that crimes against humanity were committed.

"If she plans to lawyer for Pres. Duterte she should know that the Rome Statute does not require a specific number to prove crimes against humanity... The issue isn’t just about the exact number of dead—it’s about a president openly ordering killings, police acting with impunity, and a justice system that failed victims," Colmenares said.

Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity

Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 and sent to The Hague following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the ICC, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs.

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