International Criminal Court judges have given medical experts until December 5 to complete their assessment of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte's fitness to stand trial. This follows the defense's urgent request to replace a neuropsychologist due to 'offensive' social media posts. The panel was formed to evaluate claims of Duterte's cognitive decline.
In Manila, Philippines, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a decision on November 3, released on Friday, granting the three-member medical expert panel additional time until December 5. This panel, comprising specialists in forensic psychiatry, geriatric and behavioral neurology, and neuropsychology, was established to assess former president Rodrigo Duterte's fitness to stand trial amid defense claims of cognitive decline.
Following the defense's urgent request, the chamber appointed a new replacement neuropsychologist to the panel, substituting the second one after the defense uncovered 'offensive' social media posts demonstrating 'manifest lack of professionalism.' The public redacted version of the decision states: 'The Chamber considers that the social media activity… renders him unsuitable to act as an expert in the Panel, since such activity is objectively incompatible with the independence, professionalism and impartiality necessary to perform duties before the Court.'
The original neuropsychologist had been disqualified earlier due to an ongoing suspension related to her practice. The judges admonished the ICC Registry for failing to identify this information in preparing the expert shortlist. They reiterated their call for the Registry to revise its working methods and procedures for selecting candidates to ensure independence and impartiality.
This extension until December 5 allows the panel to complete its assessment, which is crucial to Duterte's case regarding the drug war. — Edith Regalado