Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on February 23 for a confirmation of charges hearing, where he faces allegations of crimes against humanity. The court has rejected his requests for release on two occasions and has ruled that he is capable of exercising his procedural rights.
According to AFP reports from The Hague citing the ICC, the so-called “confirmation of charges” hearing against Duterte will begin on February 23. During this hearing, judges will decide whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
In a statement, the court said, “After considering the relevant legal principles, independent medical assessments by experts, and all circumstances of the case, the Chamber is satisfied that Mr. Duterte is able to effectively exercise his procedural rights.”
The ICC added that Duterte is therefore considered fit to participate in the pre-trial proceedings.
ICC prosecutors have brought three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte. The charges allege that he was involved in at least 76 killings as part of his declared “war on drugs.”
The first charge relates to his alleged role as a co-perpetrator in 19 killings that took place between 2013 and 2016, when he was mayor of Davao City.
The second charge concerns the killing of 14 individuals identified as so-called “high-value targets” during 2016 and 2017, while he was serving as president.
The third charge alleges that 43 killings occurred between 2016 and 2018 during “clearing operations” carried out against low-level suspected drug users or dealers in different parts of the Philippines.
In October last year, the court also rejected Duterte’s request for provisional release, stating that his release could create a risk of flight and the possibility of influencing witnesses.
Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11 and was flown to the Netherlands later that night. Since then, he has been held at the ICC detention center in Scheveningen Prison in The Hague.
He took part in the preliminary hearing via video link, during which he appeared disoriented and weak and spoke very little.
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