Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been declared fit to stand trial by judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The case centers on accusations of crimes against humanity, with proceedings scheduled to begin on November 30, 2026. Duterte has consistently denied all accusations, while his legal team previously argued that his health would prevent him from fully participating in court.
Judges Examine Duterte’s Fitness for Trial
On October 8, the ICC released a decision stating that Duterte is capable of understanding the charges, following the court proceedings, and cooperating with his legal counsel. This decision was supported by the findings of an independent panel of experts.
Duterte’s lawyers had argued that the former president suffers from cognitive decline and that his health made him unfit to stand trial. However, the judges concluded that he can effectively exercise his procedural rights.
This ruling concerns only his ability to participate in the trial, not his guilt or innocence. The court will address the criminal charges in subsequent proceedings.
Charges Stem from Anti-Drug Campaign
ICC prosecutors hold Duterte’s administration responsible for violence associated with the so-called war on drugs. The charges involve alleged murders and attempted murders, which occurred between November 2011 and March 2019, covering the period when Duterte was mayor of Davao and later as president of the Philippines.
Duterte led the country from 2016 to 2022. His anti-drug campaign drew international criticism over reports of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.
Estimates of the number of deaths vary. The Philippine police have reported more than 6,000 people killed, while human rights groups put the figure as high as 30,000. These totals depend on differing methodologies and the scope of the cases counted.
Duterte Arrested in 2025
Philippine authorities arrested Duterte in March 2025 based on an ICC warrant and subsequently transferred him to the court in The Hague. Before the trial, the ICC also reviewed its jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed on Philippine territory.
In April 2026, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed that the court has jurisdiction to address alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a party to the Rome Statute. Although the country withdrew from the treaty in 2019, the court ruled that its departure did not remove ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes from the previous period.
This case is among the ICC’s most high-profile proceedings involving a former Asian leader. The outcome will depend on the course of the trial and the evaluation of evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
