Duterte suffering ‘significant memory impairment’: Defense

Defense lawyers for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 81, told the ICC he suffers 'significant memory impairment' so severe he sometimes forgets his lead counsel's name, and that examinations found him believing he was living in 2007 or 2008 and unable to name the current U.S. president. His trial on crimes against humanity charges tied to his drug war, which prosecutors say killed thousands, is scheduled for November 30.

Court-appointed medical experts could not determine whether Duterte's test results reflected genuine neurological impairment or a lack of effort during testing, and the prosecution maintains he remains fit to stand trial. Duterte has appeared only once by video link, seeming dazed and dozing off, and his lawyers want him excused from further hearings on health grounds.

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