International court holds hearing on Duterte charges
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) allege that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged death squads to commit extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaigns, using fear and financial incentives.
- Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity related to dozens of killings dating back to his time as mayor of Davao and later as president, with pretrial hearings underway to determine if the case should proceed to trial.
- Duterte denies the charges, with his defense arguing that his rhetoric was taken out of context and not intended to incite violence; he waived his right to appear in court, citing health concerns.
- In the Philippines, relatives of victims and activists protested and watched the hearings, hoping for justice, while Duterte's supporters criticize
