Rodrigo Duterte’s fitness to stand ICC trial to be determined by January – Conti

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to determine by January whether former president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial, ICC assistant counsel Atty. Kristina Conti said Sunday.

“Malamang sa January na, kung fit to stand trial kung kaya niya bang tumayo o harapin ang kaso laban sa kanya,” Conti said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Most likely in January, it will be determined whether Duterte is fit to stand trial and able to face the case against him.)

Conti made the statement after a panel of experts, who checked on the former president’s medical condition, found that Duterte can fully engage and participate in ICC pre-trial proceedings.

The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I previously set December 5 as the deadline for the panel of experts to submit a report on Duterte’s medical examination, following the defense’s request for an indefinite adjournment in the proceedings.

Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman told the ICC that Duterte is unable to recall events, places, times, or even members of his close family, adding that the 80-year-old former leader lacked the capacity to apply the cognitive skills essential for the proper conduct of his defense.

Conti pointed out that the ICC would not seek Duterte’s arrest if the case is not “trial-ready.”

“'Yung prosecution, matindi at matibay ang hawak na ebidensiya para idiin siya. Hindi mag-a-apply ng warrant of arrest kung hindi trial-ready,” Conti said.

(The prosecution has strong and solid evidence to push the case against Duterte. They won’t apply for a warrant of arrest if the case is not trial-ready.)

The 80-year old Duterte is currently detained at The Hague in the Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the deadly war on drugs he waged when he was mayor of Davao City and later as President of the Philippines.

On November 28, the ICC Appeals Chamber denied Duterte’s appeal on the rejection of his request for interim release. — RF, GMA Integrated News