ICC Judges Urged to Declare Duterte Fit for Trial

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged the judges handling the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte to declare him fit to stand trial. In a seven-page request made public on Monday night, ICC acting prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang argued that Duterte should be declared fit for trial based on the reports submitted by the panel of medical experts tapped to examine the former president. Although the details of the experts’ findings were redacted in the filing, Niang said the “reports demonstrate that Mr. Duterte is fit for trial.” He also noted supposed findings of Duterte’s “reduced effort and unreliability during assessments.” It will be the Trial Chamber III that will decide, based on the panel’s findings, if Duterte is fit to stand trial, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30. The development comes as international scrutiny continues over alleged human rights abuses related to the former president's war on drugs, a campaign that reportedly led to thousands of deaths. The progress of the trial is being closely watched in the Philippines, though Duterte himself has consistently denied the ICC's jurisdiction and asserted that domestic legal processes are sufficient.