ICC medical officer can't assess FPRRD fitness to stand trial

The Registry of the International Criminal Court said that the medical officer in its detention facility "does not possess the requisite expertise or judicial knowledge" to assess if former President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial.

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

"For the confirmation hearing, the MO may provide limited observations regarding the appropriate length of the confirmation hearing schedule," the eight-page document made public on Sept. 30 on the ICC website said.

"With respect to any long-term adjustments to hearing arrangements regarding a detained person capacity to follow and take part in judicial proceedings, and any adjustment to so follow and take part therein, such matters fall outside the MO's mandate and require assessment by an appropriately qualified expert (i.e., on fitness to stand trial)," it added.

The observation came after the ICC pretrial chamber ordered the Registry for a report from the medical officer regarding the Duterte camp's request for an "indefinite adjournment" of all legal proceedings against the former President because he "is not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains."

The defense also argued that Duterte's "condition will not improve."