The Hague, Feb 24: The International Criminal Court began pre-trial hearings on Monday for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing three counts of crimes against humanity for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office.
Duterte, 80, was not in The Hague courtroom, having waived his right to appear as prosecutors began presenting evidence to support their charges of his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of his so-called war on drugs.
The charges date from Duterte’s time as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president, and include dozens of killings as part of his so-called war on drugs.
Duterte has described the charges against him an “outrageous lie”.
The Hague hearing is not a trial, but allows prosecutors to outline their case in court. After weighing the evidence, judges have 60 days to decide whether or not to confirm the charges.
Last month, judges found the octogenarian was fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about his health.
Rights groups and families of victims hailed Duterte’s arrest in March, saying it was a step forward for justice.
“We have waited for this for so long, for years we have waited, but we did not relent,” Llore Pasco told reporters at a news conference ahead of the hearing. She said both of her sons left for work in May 2017 and never returned. Their bodies were later found riddled with bullets.
Supporters of Duterte criticized the administration of current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Duterte’s political rival, for arresting and surrendering the former leader to a court whose jurisdiction they dispute.
Detractors include his daughter, current Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte who announced last week that she would seek the presidency in the 2028 elections.
Sheerah Escudero is worried about what will happen if another Duterte comes to power. The body of her 18-year-old brother was found wrapped in packaging tape in 2017.
“We know that the same policy of killings will continue,” she told reporters ahead of Monday’s hearing.
ICC prosecutors announced in February 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the violent drug crackdowns. In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.
Judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.
Countries can’t “abuse” their right to withdraw from the court’s foundational Rome Statute “by shielding persons from justice in relation to alleged crimes that are already under consideration,” the September decision says.
An appeal of that decision is still pending.