Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, appeared in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday. This appearance came as he faces serious charges related to his "war on drugs" that has resulted in the deaths of thousands.
Details of Duterte's Court Appearance
Duterte, 81, had previously only been summoned to court via video conference and had missed several sessions. His defense team had claimed that he suffers from a serious illness. In this session, Duterte appeared in court wearing a dark suit and a white shirt without a tie, resting his hands under his chin at the start of the session.
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Judge Joanna Korner, while noting Duterte's presence in court, stated that he can leave at any time without needing permission from the court. Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, which include his involvement in at least 76 killings between 2013 and 2018 during the crackdown on drug users and dealers.
Trial Start Date and Duterte's Mental State
Judge Korner has set November 30 as the trial start date, which may take months or even years. Wednesday's session was a status hearing to determine logistical details for the parties and the judge. The only time Duterte has been seen since his arrest in March 2025 was an initial appearance via video, where he appeared confused and tired, and his voice was barely audible.
Duterte's defense team has claimed that he is not mentally capable of following the proceedings and that his condition continues to deteriorate. In a report released on Tuesday, Duterte's defense stated that he suffers from "significant memory impairment that prevents him from retaining new information and accessing memories."
Judges are examining whether he is mentally fit for trial and have requested three experts to conduct a medical assessment. This assessment has not yet been made public, but Duterte's defense has referred to the results of tests mentioned in the report.
According to the defense, these tests have shown that Duterte believes he is living in 2007 or 2008, is 84 or 85 years old, and cannot recall the name of the current President of the United States.
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