AMSTERDAM – Rodrigo Duterte, the former leader of the Philippines, will be absent from crucial International Criminal Court proceedings scheduled for next week, officials announced Friday from the Netherlands-based tribunal.
The 80-year-old ex-president’s legal team successfully petitioned to excuse him from the pre-trial sessions, citing concerns about his mental capacity. However, court officials described the reasoning behind his absence as “speculative.”
His defense attorneys argued that Duterte’s deteriorating cognitive condition would prevent him from participating in the proceedings.
Just last month, judges at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague determined that Duterte was mentally capable of attending the hearings. This decision came after independent medical professionals concluded he possessed sufficient mental faculties to comprehend and engage with his legal case.
Duterte, who led the Philippines between 2016 and 2022, was apprehended and transported to The Hague in March of last year.
International prosecutors allege that Duterte established, financed, and equipped vigilante killing units as part of his anti-narcotics campaign, during which thousands of suspected drug dealers and users lost their lives.
The former president has consistently maintained that he only authorized law enforcement to use lethal force when defending themselves, and continues to justify his aggressive drug enforcement policies.
Next week’s court sessions are designed to formally validate the murder charges related to crimes against humanity that prosecutors want to bring against Duterte.
Within the International Criminal Court’s legal framework, judges must approve these charges before any trial proceedings can begin.
Official police records indicate that 6,200 suspects died during narcotics enforcement operations while Duterte held office. However, human rights advocates contend the actual death toll was significantly higher, with ICC prosecutors suggesting that up to 30,000 individuals may have perished.
