Duterte due in ICC courtroom to assess if fit for murder trial

DETAINED AT THE ICC. Rodrigo Duterte attends his first call at the ICC via video link from the Scheveningen prison where he is detained, on March 14, 2025.

Screenshot from the ICC livestream

Judges will hear arguments about his health and ability to stand trial, which is scheduled to begin in November. His lawyers have argued that he suffers from cognitive decline and is not well enough.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former president Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear in public for the first time on Wednesday, September 16, since being transferred to the International Criminal Court 18 months ago to face murder charges related to his war on drugs.

Duterte, 81, served as president from 2016 to 2022, before being charged with crimes against humanity for creating, funding and arming death squads that targeted narcotics peddlers and users. He was arrested and taken to The Hague in March 2025.

On Wednesday, judges will hear arguments about his health and ability to stand trial, which is scheduled to begin in November. His lawyers have argued that he suffers from cognitive decline and is not well enough.

Duterte’s lawyer and family did not respond to requests for comment.

ICC judges said in January that Duterte’s health was good enough for him to follow proceedings and requested his presence in court, rather than by video link from the detention unit.

Duterte’s warrant says he was responsible for a widespread and systematic campaign that led to thousands of killings between 2011 and 2019, including when he served as mayor of the southern Davao City.

ICC prosecutors have said as many as 30,000 people may have been killed in the crackdown, the details of which were reported in a Reuters investigation.

According to police, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations. Duterte said he instructed police to act in self-defense and told supporters he was ready to “rot in jail” if it meant ridding the Philippines of illicit drugs. – Rappler.com