April Benjamin

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

CONTEXT: Japan is raising single-entry visa fees for foreigners fivefold starting in July, marking the first increase since 1978. https://t.co/CSNfBb4kT7

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Japan's Embassy in the Philippines says the temporary visitor visa (up to 90 days) for Philippine passport holders will remain gratis, even as Japan's revised visa fees take effect on July 1.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

“We see no reason why counsel should feel it necessary to make any comment to the media. The appropriate forum for counsel to raise matters is in the courtroom. Trials are not conducted by the court of public opinion, but by this court during the course of the proceedings."

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

ICC Trial Chamber III Judge Joanna Korner reminded all lawyers in the Duterte case that the proper forum for arguments is the courtroom, not the media.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

"Some of those comments were his personal view of legal decisions made by the court as a whole, and were on any showing wholly inappropriate, the more so when made by counsel in the case," she said.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

ICC Trial Chamber III Judge Joanna Korner raised concerns about "fake news" surrounding Duterte’s case

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Korner cited comments made by former defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman following earlier ICC rulings.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

ICC Trial Chamber III Judge Joanna Korner said the September 7 conference could be particularly important because expert reports should already be available by then.

“Mr. Haynes, we would expect Mr. Duterte to be here, unless there's some medical issue,” Korner said.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

The ICC Trial Chamber III scheduled future status conferences on:

July 14
September 7
October 13
November 2

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

The court also granted prosecution’s request to exceed the standard page limit for their trial brief.
They requested 160 pages, 40 pages more than the usual limit, arguing it is consistent with practice in other ICC cases.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

The second status conference on the ICC case vs former president Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, June 23, wrapped up in less than 20 minutes.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Prosecutors asked for an additional week to submit observations on the experts' reports, saying they already face around 10 major filing deadlines on Aug. 31.

The chamber granted the request.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Senators Camille Villar and Imee Marcos have also arrived at the plenary hall ahead of the resumption of the Senate's special session.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano speak with newly elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian at the plenary hall ahead of the resumption of the Senate's special session on Wednesday afternoon.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Legarda and Cayetano, along with other members of the minority bloc, were absent when the special session convened this morning.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

Both athletes were absent during Wednesday's session. However, senators noted that Boatwright and Ramos had been present at the Senate for three consecutive days before the chamber adjourned sine die on June 3.

[April Benjamin @AprBenjaminINQ]

The Senate approved on third and final reading the bills granting Philippine citizenship to basketball player Bennie Boatwright and wrestler Matthew James Ramos during its June 17 special session.