Palace: Duterte's good health to allow him to stand trial, reveal truth on drug war killings

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Malacañang welcomed the ruling declaring former president Rodrigo Duterte fit to stand trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that Filipinos hope he remains healthy enough to face the court and answer for his administration’s drug war killings.

Duterte, who faces crimes against humanity charges, was found fit to stand trial on Thursday by the ICC Trial Chamber III.

“‘Yun naman din po ang nais natin. Unang-una, ang nais lahat ng mga Pilipino ay maging maayos ang kalusugan ng dating Pangulong Duterte — mas maging malakas siya, mas maging malalim ang kaniyang mga pag-iisip para maharap niya ang mga akusasyon na ibinabato sa kaniya,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Friday.

(That is also what we want. First of all, all Filipinos wish former President Duterte good health—for him to be stronger and maintain mental clarity so he can face the accusations against him.)

To accommodate Duterte's participation, Trial Chamber III ordered special measures for the trial, which is set to begin on November 30, 2026.

According to Castro, it is only by maintaining good health that the former president can reveal the truth regarding his anti-drug campaign.

She noted that when it is Duterte's turn to speak, he might finally confess to the killings carried out under his “alleged drug war.”

“Dahil sa kaniyang maging malusog na pangangatawan [at] malusog na pag-iisip, doon lamang niya maaaring isiwalat ang katotohanan. At malamang ay mababanggit niya rin sa hearing kapag panahon na niyang magsalita, ang pag-amin niya sa mga isinagawang planong pagpapatay para sa paglaban di-umano sa droga,” Castro said.

(Only through good physical health and mental clarity can he reveal the truth. And when it is his turn to testify during the hearing, he will likely admit to the planned killings carried out in the name of his alleged war on drugs.)

Prior to the third status conference on September 16, Duterte’s defense team had requested that the Chamber order additional medical evaluations.

His lead counsel, Peter Haynes, previously argued that an earlier examination revealed "significant memory impairment," leaving the former president unable to retain new information or consistently recall past events.

In its decision, Trial Chamber III also instructed the ICC Registry to “make necessary arrangements” for the upcoming trial.

In its observation filed on October 7, the Registry asked the Chamber to consider its “recommended special measures,” including a sitting schedule of one-hour blocks and permitting remote attendance via video link from the ICC Detention Center. —LDF, GMA News