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Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines
Lawyers representing families of drug war victims are preparing for what they describe as a potential “shock and awe” strategy when former president Rodrigo Duterte appears again before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The four-day confirmation of charges hearing is set to begin on Feb. 23 in The Hague, where Duterte is detained at the Scheveningen prison complex.
Victims’ counsel expect the 80-year-old former leader to appear physically frail and significantly older than his years, possibly highlighting visible changes after nearly a year in detention. They anticipate that images of Duterte during the proceedings may be amplified online by his supporters to frame him as a victim.
Lawyer Kristina Conti said the legal team is bracing for the visual impact of Duterte’s appearance.
According to Conti, Duterte may present himself during the hearings as an aging figure resembling an “albularyo” (folk healer) or a “slender Santa Claus” with unkempt white hair and a leaner build.
She said any such imagery could be used to bolster claims from the defense about Duterte’s deteriorating health.
“The visualization of what he would look like is also a preparation [on our part], so we could focus only on the charges, not on his appearance,” Conti said during a press conference organized Tuesday by the human rights group Karapatan.
The victims and their legal representatives have rejected suggestions that Duterte has become mentally unfit, pointing to findings from a medical panel commissioned by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to assess his capacity to participate in the proceedings.
“In terms of mental capacity, he is able to understand the proceedings,” Conti said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, convenor of the Duterte Panagutin Network, cautioned that misinformation campaigns could intensify ahead of the hearings.
“We should make sure that we forward the correct narrative of the victims. Duterte is not the victim here,” Lacanilao said.
The confirmation hearing will determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on charges related to the former president’s anti-drug campaign.