After being detained for a full 18 months, Duterte made his first public appearance, visibly aged and significantly weakened, even suffering from severe memory deterioration. The Hague-based International Criminal Court is expected to formally begin hearings on the "Drug War Case" in November, but Duterte’s legal team has claimed his health condition is so precarious that he should be exempted from appearing in court.

The court has arranged a medical assessment, though the full report has not yet been released. According to defense sources, Duterte exhibits serious cognitive impairments—he cannot recall recent events, sometimes believes he is still living in 2007 or 2008, and misremembers his age as 84 or 85, despite being born in 1945 and actually turning 81 this year. At times, he fails to recognize his own lawyers and forgets even basic names like Trump’s.

The prosecution is determined not to let him evade trial, prompting the court to hold a hearing where judges heard arguments from both sides regarding his health and ability to stand trial. Duterte himself attended the session—a rare appearance—but did not speak, and the court did not immediately rule on whether he is fit for trial.

Now, the central debate among observers is whether he is truly ill or merely feigning illness to avoid appearing in court. Both perspectives carry weight. Evidence supporting genuine illness includes his advanced age, past cancer diagnosis, reliance on a cane for mobility, and the far worse conditions of prison life compared to home—making physical decline unsurprising. On the other hand, the logic behind the “feigned illness” theory is straightforward: if the trial drags on for months or even years, his frail body may not survive; meanwhile, claims of cognitive impairment conveniently allow him to sidestep critical periods during which he might otherwise be questioned.

Regardless of truth or deception, this tactic has placed both the International Criminal Court and President Marcos Jr.’s administration in a difficult position. The court had hoped to establish authority by prosecuting this Asian former leader, but now faces a moral dilemma: forcibly proceeding with the trial risks public backlash if Duterte suffers harm, while failing to proceed undermines the entire judicial process. Marcos Jr.’s government, already accused of politically motivated arrest, now finds itself providing fresh tragic narrative material for the Duterte family—potentially helping them reassemble political support ahead of the 2028 elections.

This battle over health has left both the court and Marcos Jr. strategically vulnerable. And once justice becomes entangled with politics, even the fairest verdict will struggle to gain acceptance from all parties involved.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876544575009804/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.