Rodrigo Duterte, the former Philippines president, sat through his first in-person International Criminal Court hearing last month without speaking, sipping water throughout the proceedings after a year detained at The Hague.
Before that appearance, Duterte had missed several hearings or joined them by videolink. In January, International Criminal Court judges said his health was sufficient for him to follow the proceedings and asked him to attend court in person.
His lawyers then argued that cognitive deficiencies and decline affected his memory and daily functioning, raising the question of whether he could take part in a trial.
Judges have now found that he can. In a ruling dated 28 September and made public on Thursday, the International Criminal Court said Duterte was fit to understand the charges at his trial.
An independent panel of experts concluded that Duterte “has the capacity to understand the charges”.
The decision resolves the immediate question of his ability to participate, rather than the allegations themselves. In April, judges confirmed charges accusing Duterte of murder and attempted murder over his alleged role in the killings of dozens of people during his ‘war on drugs’.
His trial is set to begin on 30 November. If convicted, Duterte faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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