Duterte in person at ICC for first time over ‘war on drugs’ killings

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the first time for proceedings related to his "war on drugs." Prosecutors accuse Duterte of crimes against humanity, alleging he created and funded death squads responsible for killings of drug users and dealers. The trial, scheduled to begin on November 30, will cover alleged murders between 2013 and 2018 in Davao City and during his presidency. Duterte denies the charges, claiming he ordered police to act in self-defense. His lawyers have argued he is unfit for trial due to memory loss, but judges previously ruled he was healthy enough to stand trial and ordered his presence.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for the first time. He is facing trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs, which resulted in tens of thousands of alleged summary executions of small-time drug dealers. Duterte, 81, attended a status hearing on Wednesday, 18 months after his arrest in Manila, having previously appeared via video link and missed hearings. His lawyers argued his deteriorating health made him unfit to stand trial. The ICC is investigating killings that occurred between November 2011 and March 2019. The first trial date is scheduled for November.