ICC seeks Filipino, Cebuano transcribers for investigations

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking freelance transcribers who speak Filipino and Cebuano. This effort may help the Office of the Prosecutor identify additional "coperpetrators" involved in the drug war during Rodrigo Duterte's time in office. Human rights lawyer Kristina Conti commented that this job posting could indicate that more officials involved in the killings may still be identified. The ongoing investigation looks into deaths that occurred between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, while the Philippines was a member of the Rome Statute. Conti explained that the ICC expects to receive information in Filipino and Cebuano. She noted that future trials might include witnesses or evidence in these languages that the court needs to understand. The job posting, released on January 28, comes after an arrest warrant was issued for Duterte. It seeks transcribers for the Language Services Unit of the ICC, requiring proficiency in listening, understanding, and writing in Filipino and Cebuano. Cebuano is widely spoken in Mindanao, including in Davao City, Duterte’s hometown. Duterte is currently detained at the ICC facility in the Netherlands, facing serious allegations of crimes against humanity related to the killings of suspected drug offenders. The position requires transcribers to produce accurate transcripts from audio or video files. The ICC warns that some material could be disturbing due to the nature of its operations. Selected candidates must pass an accredited transcription test to join the team. Last year, the ICC also searched for translators, highlighting progress in their investigation. Lawyers for the families of drug war victims see this as a strong signal that Duterte could face trial at the ICC. Additionally, the ICC has a portal for potential witnesses to provide more information about the situation in the Philippines. This portal remains open for submissions.