International Criminal Court rejects motion to halt proceedings against former Philippine President Duterte

The International Criminal Court has rejected a request to stop proceedings against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte is accused of orchestrating systematic killings during anti-drug operations that took place during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. His defense team had argued that the ICC lacked jurisdiction over the case and should halt the proceedings. The court's decision allows the investigation into Duterte's role in the controversial drug war to continue, which human rights groups estimate resulted in thousands of deaths.