By MANILA, Philippines — It was mainly intended to confirm his identity and set some matters of procedure. It was over in under 30 minutes.
But none of it was merely procedural—for every minute was historic—as Filipinos watched their former leader reduced to saying his name, his age showing in a quivering voice, before a foreign tribunal that will determine whether he would be tried for the dark deeds that led to the deaths of thousands and continue to divide the nation.
