The International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed a new expert to join the panel evaluating former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical condition to determine his fitness to stand trial. The appointment follows the revocation of a previous panel member’s position due to professional concerns, as stated in a public redacted decision by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I. Duterte, 80, has been detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution since his arrest in March on charges of crimes against humanity related to killings during his tenure as president and Davao City mayor. However, concerns were raised regarding the qualifications of one neuropsychologist, leading the ICC to revoke her appointment and restrict her access to all case documents. Following the submission, the defense, prosecution, and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) have until December 12 to provide observations. The extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s administration were officially recorded at around 6,000, though human rights groups estimate the number could be as high as 30,000, including vigilante killings.
