Rodrigo Duterte Faces ICC Charges Over Human Rights Violations

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to make his initial appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague today. The court's session, set for 2:00 PM Central European Time, follows Duterte's arrest earlier this week at Manila airport, where he was detained under an ICC-issued international warrant and transferred to court custody on Wednesday. Duterte faces allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration's aggressive anti-drug campaign between 2016 and 2022. Prosecutors accuse him of involvement in at least 43 murders linked to the crackdown on drug offenses. The upcoming hearing aims to verify Duterte's identity, ensure he comprehends the proceedings, and inform him of the charges and his legal rights. The event, expected to be streamed online, experienced a brief delay. During his presidency, authorities claimed around 6,000 deaths were connected to anti-drug operations, though human rights groups estimate the death toll could reach up to 30,000, many of whom reportedly died without trial, raising serious human rights concerns. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has described the alleged crimes as part of a widespread ...