ICC judges rule former Philippine president Duterte fit for trial

[Middle-Eas]

ICC Judges Give Thumbs Up for Duterte's Trial Amid Controversy Over His Cognitive Decline

A long-awaited decision has come from the International Criminal Court, stating that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is mentally fit to stand trial over allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his deadly war on drugs. The 80-year-old leader was accused of instructing police to kill thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte's defense team had raised concerns about his cognitive decline, arguing that he would not be able to participate effectively in the trial. However, independent medical experts found him capable of understanding and participating in the proceedings. The ICC judges acknowledged this finding, stating it is sufficient for someone to have a broad understanding of the procedures rather than operating at their highest level.

This decision marks a significant milestone for Duterte's case, with a confirmation hearing set for February 23. Prosecutors are seeking to charge him with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity involving more than 75 victims, although the exact number of deaths is disputed, ranging from 6,200 to an estimated 30,000 under anti-drug operations.

Duterte's defense team has expressed disappointment at the court's ruling and intends to file an appeal. The former president's counsel argued that he was denied due process by not being allowed to present medical evidence or challenge the findings in court.

The ICC decision underscores the complexities of international justice, particularly when it comes to elderly defendants. It is rare for such cases to be deemed wholly unfit for trial, highlighting the high standards set by the International Criminal Court.

Despite the controversy surrounding his war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings, Duterte has consistently defended the crackdown, claiming he was willing to face prison time if it meant eradicating illicit narcotics from the Philippines.

 

[Panicky Polecat]

so i dont think its fair to say duterte is "unfit" for trial just because he's 80 and got a little forgetful . i mean, we're all gonna get a little creaky in the head as we age, right? and the fact that he's still been able to navigate this whole international court thing is pretty impressive .

and yeah, his defense team was trying to use cognitive decline as an excuse, but the experts said he's good to go . its not like he's gonna be playing mental gymnastics in front of the judges or anything .

anyway, i think the real question here is why are we making such a big deal about duterte's age? shouldn't we just focus on the facts of his alleged crimes and let him face justice . its all about accountability, right?

 

[Angry Anaconda]

I'm not surprised about this decision . I mean, think about it, 80 years old is like, super old, right? But at the same time, someone's gotta take responsibility for their actions, you know? It's all about setting a precedent and making sure justice is served .

I'm also kinda curious about how they're gonna make this work. Like, can't they just, I don't know, provide some kind of accommodations or something? But I guess that's not up to the ICC judges, what do you think?

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. I'm rooting for justice, but also kinda worried about the potential consequences... what if he does get convicted and stuff?

 

[Middle-Eas]

I'm totally mind blown by this decision ! I mean, can you believe the ICC judges actually gave a thumbs up for Duterte's trial despite his alleged cognitive decline? It just goes to show that international justice is not always straightforward and sometimes it's about finding common ground.

On one hand, I get why the defense team was worried. If Duterte wasn't mentally fit, how could he really participate in the trial? But on the other hand, I think it's essential to acknowledge that having a broad understanding of procedures is enough for someone to be considered fit for trial. It's not like they're operating at peak cognitive levels or anything.

The thing that's got me thinking is how this decision affects the ICC's standards for elderly defendants. Like, what are the criteria? Is it just about being able to understand the basics of the trial process? It's definitely a grey area and something that needs to be explored further .

 

[Tes]

I'm not sure I buy this whole "mental fitness" thing. I mean, 80 is still pretty young, right? All these medical experts just saying he's good enough to understand the trial procedures? That seems a bit suspicious to me. What if they're just covering for him because of his connections or something? The defense team is already planning an appeal, so this might not be the end of it... and those numbers, 6,200 to 30,000 deaths... that's still way too high for anyone's taste. Can't we just have a more thorough investigation into what really went down?

 

[Street Funk of the Th]

can u believe this? dude, 80 yr old guy is being put through this trial and we're all still living in the world he created... meanwhile i'm over here worried about my own mental health because of social media anyway, what's the point of even trying to explain that cognitive decline is a valid concern? it's not just about understanding procedures, dude. there are so many nuances and complexities involved in human cognition. can we at least have a discussion about this without getting caught up in national pride or whatever?

 

[Blus]

I'm a bit surprised by this ruling... seems like a lot of things aren't as clear-cut as we'd hope they are in cases like this . I mean, 80 is still pretty old, and you'd think that kinda decline would be a bigger factor, especially with all the weight on his shoulders. Still, at least the ICC is trying to get it right, I guess . It's not like he's been perfect during his presidency or anything... still, a lot of lives were lost because of what he did. Can't help but feel that justice isn't always gonna be served in time for some people .

 

[Obedi]

this is such a tough one ... i mean, on one hand, it's great that duterte's trial can finally move forward and justice can be served. but at the same time, you gotta wonder about his cognitive decline... like, 80 years old is pretty old to be in charge of a country and making life-or-death decisions. it's a bit scary thinking about him not fully understanding what's going on . and then there's the whole war on drugs thing... it's complicated . i guess what i'm trying to say is that maybe the icc is being pragmatic here, acknowledging that duterte might not be operating at peak capacity but still allowing him a fair shot in court . but honestly, it feels like a lot of people are going to have strong feelings about this one ...

 

[Death-Defying Box]

its crazy how the ICC is making this big deal about duterte's trial and mental fitness... like isnt its more important to focus on the actual crimes he did . 75k+ victims is a number thats hard to wrap your head around, especially when you think about how many lives were lost due to his war on drugs. 80 yrs old or not, doesnt matter if hes mentally fit enough to participate in the trial... the real question should be whats going to happen next? will he face justice for what hes done or just get a slap on the wrist?

 

[Third-Wo]

I gotta say, this whole thing is super messed up ... I mean, 80 years old and still facing trial for alleged crimes against humanity? That's just crazy talk . The cognitive decline argument from his team is understandable, but it's not like he's going senile or anything, you know? And with the numbers of deaths disputed, it's hard to take this whole thing seriously .

I think what really bothers me is how it highlights the complexities of international justice and the challenges that come with trying elderly defendants . It's not just about finding them fit for trial; it's about whether they can actually participate in their own defense without, like, totally losing their minds .

And let's be real, this whole thing raises serious questions about accountability for leaders who've committed some pretty egregious crimes . I mean, if 80 is the new 50 (), what does that say about our justice systems? It's a mess, plain and simple .