Former Philippine President Duterte appeared in front of the International Criminal for the first time

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to appear before the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands later on Friday, the court announced. Duterte, 79, who arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday, is facing charges of crimes against humanity in the context of “war on drugs” during his rule, including the killing of at least 43 people between 2011 and 2019.

The court in The Hague said, in a statement issued on Thursday, that Duterte will appear for the first time at two in the afternoon (1300 GMT). The session is scheduled to be broadcast with 30 minutes delay. “During the first appearance session, the judges will be achieved from the identity of the suspect and the language in which he can follow the procedures,” the court statement said. The statement continued that “he will be informed of the charges against him and his rights under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

The former Philippine chief was detained at Manila Airport last Tuesday, according to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, and was transferred from the capital on a rented plane on the same day, with a stop in Dubai. He was handed over to the International Criminal Court, the day before yesterday, Wednesday, according to the court.

Duterte assumed the presidency of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, when he led a fierce campaign against drug crimes. Police figures show that about six thousand people were killed during the anti -drug campaign, but human rights organizations estimate that the number is up to 30 thousand. The suspects have been executed without trial.

The arrest warrant stipulates that there are reasonable reasons for the belief that Duterte was individually responsible for murders that may be considered crimes against humanity, first as head of the municipality of Davao and then as head of the Philippines. It is possible that it takes a few months before examining the indictment in preliminary hearings. The International Criminal Court has been investigating the alleged crimes in the Philippines since 2018.

(Associated Press)