ICC to order re-examination of Rodrigo Duterte's fitness

International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III Judge Joanna Korner on Wednesday said the court would order a re-examination of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s fitness to stand trial in his crimes against humanity case over alleged killings during his time as president and mayor.

During the case’s first status conference, Korner said Duterte’s defense team had filed a motion arguing that the earlier finding on his fitness applied only to the confirmation of charges proceedings.

“You very sensibly proposed that the three gentlemen who examined him for the purposes of the confirmation proceeding should be reinstructed to reexamine him,” Korner said.

“And we propose to make that order, hopefully either today or tomorrow,” she added.

However, Korner deferred ruling on the defense’s request to make the experts available for questioning.

“I rather think we’ll wait and see what the reports say before we make such a decision,” she said.

Duterte’s legal counsel, lawyer Peter Haynes, expressed agreement with the proposal.

The Trial Chamber held its first status conference on Wednesday to discuss the commencement date of the trial, pretrial deadlines, anticipated evidence, agreed facts, the languages to be used by the parties, and disclosure obligations, among other matters.—MCG, GMA News