Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The pre-trial hearings for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte are set to begin at the International Criminal Court Monday, though he has refused to attend.
Duterte, 80, said he won't attend because he is "old, tired and frail" and has memory loss. He said "the claim that I oversaw a policy of extrajudicial killings is an outrageous lie." He also said he doesn't recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.
Duterte was arrested in Manila and taken to The Hague last year. He is facing charges of crimes against humanity for his role in a "drug war" crackdown in which thousands were allegedly killed for selling or using drugs. In January, the court denied his release saying he is a flight risk.
Victims' families have called Duterte a coward for refusing to appear.
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