THE HAGUE | International Criminal Court judges have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign, clearing a major procedural hurdle ahead of his scheduled trial on November 30.
The ICC said the September 28 ruling followed an assessment by three independent medical experts, who concluded that Duterte has the capacity to understand the charges against him, follow the proceedings, understand the evidence and communicate with his lawyers about his defense. The 81-year-old former president denies the allegations.
The fitness issue had been raised by Duterte’s defense, which argued that cognitive difficulties prevented him from adequately participating in the proceedings. The ICC had previously found him fit to participate in the pre-trial phase in January 2026, after reviewing assessments by the same panel of independent experts.
The ruling keeps the case on course for trial. The ICC’s Trial Chamber III formally scheduled the opening for November 30, 2026, after a status conference in May. The court said preparations would continue before the trial, including procedures concerning the presentation of evidence and participation by victims.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber unanimously confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte on April 23, 2026, and committed him to trial. The charges concern alleged killings during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as president, including allegations involving murder and attempted murder.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11, 2025, pursuant to an ICC warrant and was transferred to the court’s detention center in The Hague. The ICC said he has remained in its custody since his surrender. The court’s case materials also stress that Duterte is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The case stems from the ICC investigation into alleged crimes committed in the Philippines between November 2011 and March 2019. Prosecutors allege that killings connected to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign were carried out by police and other groups, including an alleged organized structure referred to in the proceedings as the Davao Death Squad. Duterte has repeatedly denied responsibility for unlawful killings.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in March 2019. The court has maintained that the withdrawal did not remove its jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a state party. The ICC investigation was formally authorized in 2021 after prosecutors examined allegations concerning the country’s anti-drug campaign.
The case is now moving toward the first ICC trial involving a former Philippine president. The November proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove their allegations in court, with Duterte retaining the right to contest the evidence and defend himself against the charges.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
