ICC postpones ex-Philippine president’s drugs war trial amid health concerns

The International Criminal Court has postponed “until further notice” a crimes against humanity hearing concerning former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, while judges weigh his fitness to take part.

Duterte, 80, was arrested and taken to The Hague in March on charges linked to his “war on drugs”, in which thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed.

On Monday, judges allowed for an indefinite postponement of the so-called confirmation of charges hearings that had been set for September 23.

But they stressed that the period would be limited “to the time strictly necessary to determine whether Mr Duterte is fit to follow and participate in the pre-trial proceedings”, according to a decision published on the court’s website.

Duterte has maintained his arrest was unlawful and tantamount to kidnapping. In August, his defence lawyers asked the court for an adjournment of all proceedings, arguing that the former president was not fit to stand trial.