ICC says Rodrigo Duterte fit to stand trial
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears at the International Criminal Court during the third status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, September 16, 2026. Handout/ICC via Flickr MANILA — The International Criminal Court on Thursday said former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial on charges of committing crimes against humanity in the conduct of his administration’s drug war.
In the decision, dated September 28 but was made public on October 8, ICC Trial Chamber III said it is satisfied that the “Accused is able to effectively exercise his fair trial rights in the proceedings and is therefore fit to stand trial”, based on several examinations and tests conducted by an independent panel of experts, as well as submissions by both the defense and the prosecution.
“The chamber was satisfied that the accused is able to effectively exercise his fair trial rights in the proceedings,” the court said of the 81-year-old, whose trial is due to start on November 30.
The judges based their decision on the findings of an independent panel of experts and submissions from other interested parties and participants, said the ruling.
The ICC expert panel said Duterte has the capacity to understand the charges, understand the purpose and consequences of the proceedings, follow the course of the proceedings, understand the evidence as well as to instruct the counsel in the preparation and conduct of his defense.
The ICC chamber noted the recommendation of the expert panel regarding the sitting hours on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual circumstances of the witnesses and the accused.
The chamber also rejected the request of the defense for additional medical examination, as well as its request to question the expert panel, and the initial request for oral hearing.
The former leader appeared in person at the court for the first time in mid-September, faces charges over his “war on drugs” that killed thousands.
Duterte, who ruled the Philippines between 2016 and 2022 and before that was mayor of the southern city of Davao, is the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC.
The tribunal prosecutes individuals for the world’s worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders during his offensive from between 2013 and 2018, during his time as mayor and president.