Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was brought to The Hague to face murder charges related to his controversial drug war. His defense lawyer claimed he was unlawfully abducted and was too ill for trial, labeling the extradition as 'kidnapping.' Despite these assertions, the court found him mentally fit to stand trial, leading to upcoming pretrial hearings to assess the prosecution's evidence. Duterte's campaign against drugs has claimed thousands of lives, stirring significant political tensions in the Philippines as his political influence faces serious legal challenges.
Duterte's lawyer claimed that his arrest and extradition amounted to pure and simple kidnapping, asserting his health conditions rendered him unfit for trial.
The court scheduled a pretrial hearing for Sept. 23 to evaluate the prosecution's evidence against Duterte, with proceedings expected to last several years.
Despite health concerns raised by Duterte’s attorney, the court-appointed doctor found Duterte fully mentally aware and fit to stand trial.
His arrest triggered significant reactions in the Philippines, highlighting a growing divide between political leaders, particularly the Duterte and Marcos families.
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