The Hague, Netherlands (AP) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared on Friday, days after being arrested in Manila before a judge at the International Criminal Court on murder charges related to the fatal “war on drugs” he overseen while in office.
Duterte, 79, did not appear in the Hague courthouse, but appeared on a video screen from a detention center that was about a mile (1½ kilometre) long.
His lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, used the hearing to accuse his arrest in Manila as “pure and simple trickery.” He said Duterte was “denied all access to legal instruments in the country of his citizenship, all in the nature of political scores being resolved.”
Read more: What happened during Duterte’s chaotic arrest
Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc set a pretrial hearing date on September 23 to establish whether the prosecutor’s evidence is strong enough to send cases to trial. If the trial moves ahead, it could take years, and if Duterte is found guilty, he will face the maximum life sentence.
The judge said Duterte had just left the long flight and was allowed to attend the first ICC hearing by videoconference.
In a jacket and tie, Duterte often closed his eyes, hearing his hearing through his headphones. He spoke in English to confirm his name and his date and place of birth. He didn’t have to enter the plea. The hearing, which began about 30 minutes late, lasted about 30 minutes.
Mediadea said Duterte was being observed in the hospital due to health problems.
Speaking to Duterte, the judge said, “The court doctors were the opinion that you were fully emotionally aware and conforming.”
According to the number of human rights groups, Duterte’s estimated death toll during his presidency exceeds 6,000 reported by the National Police, varying from up to 30,000.
Duterte’s daughter greets supporters outside the court
His daughter, Philippine Vice President Sarah Duterte, met with supporters outside the court before hearing Friday, and later visited him at the court’s detention center. Duterte is the political rival of the current president.
Duterte was arrested Tuesday amid a chaotic scene in the Philippine capital after returning from a visit to Hong Kong. He quickly flew to the Netherlands, wearing a chartered jet. After a series of medical checks upon arrival, he was taken to a court detention centre.
Duterte’s supporters outside the court said, “Send him back! I’ll send him back!” as they awaited his arrival. Meanwhile, activists marched in the capital region of the Philippines and demanded justice from the thousands of suspects killed in Duterte’s brutal crackdown. Other groups have set up a large screen to allow families of suspects killed in the crackdown to watch ICC proceedings.
Why is Duterte accused?
Prosecutors accused Duterte of being involved as an “indirect co-executor” in multiple murders, which amounted to a crime against humanity allegedly overseeing the murders from November 2011 to March 2019.
According to a prosecutor’s request for arrest, Duterte, as mayor of Davao, issued orders to the so-called Davao death team, or to the police and other “hitmen” who formed the DDS.
Read more: Philippine leader Duterte announces retirement from politics
He said “their mission is to kill off criminals, including drug dealers, and to provide clearance for certain DDS killings,” adding that prosecutors have recruited, paid and rewarded killers, “promised to provide the necessary weapons and resources and protect them from prosecution.”
Documents seeking Duterte’s ICC warrant said prosecutors built the lawsuit using evidence such as witness testimony, speeches by Duterte himself, government documents and video footage.
Rights groups’ reaction to arrest
Human rights groups and the families of the victims welcomed Duterte’s arrest as a historic victory over the state’s immunity, but supporters of the former president condemned what they called the government’s surrender to the courts they disputed.
“We feel happy and safe,” said Melinda Avion Rafente, 55, the mother of 22-year-old Angelo Rafente, who said she was tortured and killed in 2016.
“The appearance of Duterte before the ICC is a testament to the courage and determination of victims, their families, Filipino activists and journalists who pursue justice no matter how long it takes.” “It should be noted that other leaders facing ICC arrest warrants, such as (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and (Israel Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu, could end up in the Hague even if they are not likely to be touched today.”
Duterte’s defense
Duterte’s legal team said the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines should not allow the global courts to obtain custody of former leaders as the Philippines is no longer the ICC party.
Mediadea “stricken the unlikely alliance of two problematic entities: a sitting president who wants to neutralize and suffocate the legacy of my clients and his daughter” and a “a problematic legal institution that is subject to illegalization.”
Harry Roque, a spokesman for the former president of Duterte, told reporters outside the ICC that he applied to be recognized as one of the former president’s lawyers. If approved, he would raise what he said was the illegal arrest of Duterte by Duterte authorities and the lack of jurisdiction of the ICC over the Philippines, which retreated from the World Court when Duterte was president.
The ICC judge who issued the arrest warrant said the alleged crime he was charged with took place before the Philippines withdraws from the court.
Jim Gomez, Jour Carpitan, Aaron Fabira of Manila, Philippines, and Ahmad Seyer of The Hague contributed to this report.
