Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte watched the International Criminal Court (ICC) hearing on his contentious drug war case through videolink but seemed visibly sleepy, often keeping his eyes closed for minutes at a time. His appearance was met with mixed reactions, with some supporters writing it off as exhaustion, while critics interpreted it as indifference to the seriousness of the case.
The ICC is probing Duterte’s war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of fatalities amid charges of extrajudicial killings. Even denying ICC jurisdiction, Duterte remained a central figure in the case, as families of the victims called for justice.
Legal analysts opine that Duterte’s participation in the hearings, even at a distance, might affect international pressure on the Philippines. Nevertheless, his apparent lack of interest has kept pundits guessing over whether he wants to cooperate fully or keep refusing to respect the tribunal’s authority.
As proceedings are ongoing, the world is keeping its eye on the ICC’s judgment, which has the potential to have profound political and legal implications for Duterte and the legacy of his administration.
