Philippines ex-President Duterte fit to stand trial, ICC rules
Summary
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have decided that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is mentally fit to stand trial for crimes against humanity linked to his "war on drugs." The trial will start on November 30, and Duterte denies the charges, which include murder and attempted murder.Key Facts
- The ICC judges found Duterte, age 81, able to understand the evidence and work with his lawyers.
- Duterte is accused of ordering police and government squads to kill drug suspects during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
- His legal team argued he had memory problems, but medical experts said he is fit for trial.
- Duterte was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025 and transferred to the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague.
- He denies the charges, saying police acted in self-defense under his orders.
- Estimates of deaths in the anti-drug crackdown range from 6,000 to 30,000.
- The ICC is the first international court to arrest a former Asian leader for such crimes.
- Judges refused a request to release him from custody before the trial starts.
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