Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to appear before the International Criminal Court on Wednesday to determine his fitness for a murder trial related to his war on drugs. Judges will hear arguments regarding his health and cognitive ability to stand trial, scheduled to begin in November.
The hearing is a critical step in determining whether former President Duterte can be held accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, potentially impacting international justice mechanisms and the pursuit of accountability for alleged human rights abuses.
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear in public on Wednesday at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, 18 months after his transfer to face murder charges. The 81-year-old, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, is accused of crimes against humanity for allegedly creating, funding, and arming death squads targeting narcotics peddlers and users during his war on drugs. Judges will hear arguments regarding his health and cognitive ability to stand trial, which is scheduled to commence in November. Duterte's lawyers contend that he suffers from cognitive decline and is not well enough to participate in the proceedings. However, ICC judges stated in January that his health was adequate for him to follow proceedings and requested his physical presence in court, rather than a video link from a detention unit. The warrant against Duterte alleges responsibility for a widespread and systematic campaign resulting in thousands of killings between 2011 and 2019, including during his tenure as mayor of Davao city. ICC prosecutors estimate that up to 30,000 people may have been killed in the crackdown, a figure detailed in a Reuters investigation. Police reports indicate 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, with Duterte stating he instructed police to act in self-defense and expressing readiness to 'rot in jail' if it meant eradicating illicit drugs in the Philippines.