Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been deemed fit to stand trial by judges at the International Criminal Court. The decision comes after concerns were raised about Duterte’s health, leading to a postponement of an earlier hearing.
Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in numerous killings during his anti-drug campaign while serving as a mayor and later as president. His lawyers had claimed that his health was deteriorating while in the court’s detention unit.
Following an evaluation by medical experts, it was determined that Duterte is capable of exercising his rights in the legal proceedings. The court has rescheduled the hearing for February 23.
Duterte’s legal team expressed disappointment with the ruling and plans to appeal. Human rights groups and families of victims welcomed Duterte’s arrest and praised the court’s decision as a step towards justice and accountability.
ICC prosecutors allege that Duterte authorized violent acts, including murder, against alleged criminals. The court had rejected a request to dismiss the case based on the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC, emphasizing that countries cannot evade accountability by leaving the court.
The death toll during Duterte’s presidency varies, with reports ranging from over 6,000 by national police to as high as 30,000 according to human rights organizations.