Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro on Saturday said justice is starting to roll down following former president Rodrigo Duterte’s appearance before his initial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Witnessing the first appearance attended by FP Duterte before the ICC, everybody could see how justice starts to roll down,” Castro said in a statement.
“This is what we call a fair trial,” she added.
According to her, the ICC denied any postponement of the hearing, stating that this phase was not the time for Duterte to present his defense.
“The judge even emphasized that the Court’s doctor gave the opinion that FP Duterte is fully mentally aware and fit and that he had undergone further checks and tests at the detention facility,” Castro said.
“It was also confirmed by the Court based on the report of the registry that FP Duterte was informed of his rights, including (Articles) 66 and 67 of the Rome Statute and he was aware of the warrant of arrest in the English language,” she added.
Duterte faces accusations of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, in connection with his administration’s drug war, which saw thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings. The ICC has set the next hearing for the confirmation of charges against the former president on September 23.