The International Criminal Court said on Monday it will question former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte on February 23 over allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his campaign against drugs.
Duterte, 80, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, will appear before judges in a pre trial hearing known as a confirmation of charges session. During the proceedings, the court will assess whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
In a statement, the court said its judges had determined that Duterte is fit to appear, based on applicable legal standards, independent medical assessments and the overall circumstances of the case.
Prosecutors at the ICC have brought three counts of crimes against humanity against the former leader, accusing him of involvement in the killing of at least 76 people during his anti drug campaign.
The first charge relates to the killing of 19 people between 2013 and 2016, when Duterte was mayor of Davao City in southern Philippines. The second concerns the deaths of at least 14 people in 2016 and 2017, during the early period of his presidency, in operations targeting alleged senior drug traffickers.
The third charge covers 43 killings carried out during so called cleansing operations against suspected drug users and low-level dealers. According to the indictment, the alleged crimes took place across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018.
The court previously rejected a request by Duterte for early release in October, citing concerns that he could flee or interfere with witnesses if freed ahead of proceedings.
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