Bid to disclose Duterte’s medical info rejected

National

JUDGES at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have rejected the bid of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team seeking access to internal communications involving medical experts tasked with assessing his fitness to stand trial.

The ruling marks another procedural setback for Duterte as the case against him continues to advance in The Hague.

In a five-page decision, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I said the defense had failed to justify its sweeping request for disclosure.

The judges ruled that Duterte’s lawyers already possess sufficient information about how the experts were appointed, instructed and how their medical reports were prepared.

The court said there was no legal basis to order the release of “all communications” between the ICC Registry and the three medical experts without further proof that such materials were necessary to protect Duterte’s rights.

The decision was unanimously signed by all three pre-trial judges.

Duterte’s counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, had asked the chamber to compel the Registry to turn over the communications, arguing they were relevant to determining whether the former president is mentally and physically fit to stand trial.

Prosecutors and lawyers representing victims, however, have urged the court to formally declare Duterte fit, citing the experts’ findings.

The judges have yet to issue a ruling on Duterte’s fitness, a decision that could determine whether proceedings move forward without delay.

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s deadly anti-drug campaign.

As legal proceedings continued, members of Duterte’s family made public appearances in The Hague.

In a report by Philstar, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte confirmed he visited his father in detention, describing him as withdrawn and physically changed, with long hair and little appetite. Paolo was joined by his sister Veronica, who arrived in the Netherlands before the holidays.

Paolo Duterte is also scheduled to travel to Australia later this month and has revised his request for House travel clearance, significantly shortening both the duration and destinations of his trip.

The former president, meanwhile, spent the Christmas and New Year holidays without family visits, in line with ICC detention rules.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)