The Hague, (Netherlands), 16 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, appeared in public today for the first time in over a year to attend a preliminary hearing at the court in The Hague. The 81-year-old is charged with murder and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ waged during his tenure, first as mayor of a city in the southern Philippines and later as president. Duterte has denied the charges. The International Criminal Court has been investigating since 2018 the mass killings that took place during anti-drug operations carried out under Duterte’s supervision. Estimates of the number of victims during his presidency vary: from over 6,000, as reported by the national police, to as many as 30,000, as reported by human rights organisations.
Philippines: Former President Duterte appears before the ICC for the first time
The Hague, (Netherlands), 16 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, appeared in public today for the first time in over a year to attend a preliminary hearing at the court in The Hague. The 81-year-old is charged with murder and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ waged during his tenure, first as mayor of a city in the southern Philippines and later as president. Duterte has denied the charges. The International Criminal Court has been investigating since 2018 the mass killings that took place during anti-drug operations carried out under Duterte’s supervision. Estimates of the number of victims during his presidency vary: from over 6,000, as reported by the national police, to as many as 30,000, as reported by human rights organisations.