ICC Finds Duterte Fit for Trial as Global Justice Plays Selective 'Health' Card
📰 THE STORY: Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 80, is fit to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his 'war on drugs', after initially postponing proceedings due to health concerns. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2008, the Philippines, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
signed the Rome Statute, making it subject to ICC jurisdiction. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018, effective 2019, but the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a member (2016-2019). The 'war on drugs' led to an estimated 6,000 to 30,000 extrajudicial killings. Double Standard: While the ICC rigorously assesses Duterte's health for
trial, the court has been remarkably silent on the fitness to stand trial of other leaders accused of war crimes, particularly those allied with Western powers. For instance, Benjamin Netanyahu, 74, sought medical exemptions from court appearances in Israel multiple times. The recent ICC arrest warrant requests for Netanyahu and Gallant, leaders of a state committing what many legal experts and
South Africa's ICJ case call genocide in Gaza (40,000+ dead since October), have received significantly different treatment, with US politicians outright threatening the court and refusing to acknowledge its legitimacy in these cases. Compare the swift action for Duterte to the years of inaction and Western political obstruction for any charges against Israeli leadership. Follow the Money: The