Duterte's International Criminal Court hearing rescheduled due to health concerns
Rodrigo Duterte, the former President of the Philippines, faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to his government's deadly anti-drug crackdown. The hearing, originally scheduled for September 23, has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns about Biden's health.
Duterte has been in the ICC's detention unit in the Netherlands since March. At his first hearing, which he attended via videolink, he appeared weak and barely spoke. Prosecutors claim that Duterte's drug war was part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population in the Philippines, resulting in an estimated death toll of over 6,000, according to police reports, and as high as 30,000, according to rights groups.
The ICC is investigating mass killings during Duterte's tenure as mayor of Davao and as president. The court will now decide whether the trial can proceed. Kristina Conti, one of the lawyers representing the families of alleged victims, expressed concern about Biden's ability to postpone the hearing indefinitely.
The case has sparked political tensions in Manila. Critics blame President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for surrendering Duterte to the ICC. There is a political feud between the Marcos and Duterte family dynasties, which has polarized the Philippines.
The families of the alleged victims are disappointed with the postponement of the pretrial hearing. No new information was provided about Duterte's current location or health status. The hearing has been postponed until further notice.
This makes Duterte the first former Asian president to be charged by the ICC. The charges against him are a significant development in the ongoing efforts to hold powerful leaders accountable for human rights abuses. The ICC's decision to postpone the hearing is a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in bringing such cases to trial.
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