Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court will begin presenting evidence against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged role in killings linked to his war on drugs.

Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity for crackdowns carried out during his time as Davao mayor and as president.

The hearing, which Duterte waived, allows prosecutors to outline their case; judges will have 60 days to decide whether to confirm the charges.

Rights groups and victims’ families have hailed the proceedings as a step toward justice, citing deaths of relatives during the crackdown, NBC News has reported.

Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2018, judges ruled the court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while Duterte was in office, and an appeal of that decision is pending.