ICC to hear charges against Philippines’ Duterte
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court will begin presenting evidence against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte detailing his alleged involvement in dozens of murders as part of the so-called war on drugs.
The former leader faces three crimes against humanity for a deadly anti-drug crackdown he oversaw, first while serving as mayor of the southern Philippines city of Davao and later as president.
Human rights groups and victims’ families welcomed Duterte’s arrest in March, saying it was a step forward for justice.
“We have waited for this for a very long time, we have waited for years, but we did not give up,” Llore Pasco told reporters ahead of Monday’s hearing. he said.
She said both of her sons left for work in May 2017 and never returned.
Their bodies were later found riddled with bullets.
The hearing is not a trial, but it allows prosecutors to outline their case in court.
After considering the evidence, judges have 60 days to decide whether to uphold the charges.
Duterte will not be able to attend the hearing at the Hague-based court.
He waived his right to a hearing, writing in a letter to the judges that he did not want to participate in the legal proceedings “I will forget about this in a few minutes. I am old, tired and weak.”
He also described the accusations against him as an “ugly lie”.
In January, judges ruled the octogenarian was fit to stand trial after adjourning an earlier hearing due to concerns about his health.
Duterte’s supporters support Duterte’s political rival, current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. They criticized his administration for arresting the former leader and handing him over to a court whose jurisdiction they disputed.
Those opposed include Sara Duterte, the daughter of current Philippine Vice President, who announced last week that she will run for president in the 2028 elections.
Prosecutors at the ICC announced in February 2018 that they would launch a preliminary investigation into the violent crackdown on drugs.
In a move that human rights advocates said was aimed at avoiding accountability, then-president Duterte announced a month later that the Philippines would withdraw from the court.
The justices rejected a request by Duterte’s legal team to dismiss the case on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction due to the Philippines’ withdrawal.
The appeal process regarding this decision is still ongoing.
Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidency vary, from more than 6,000 reported by the national police to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.
