ICC opens confirmation hearing for Philippine ex-leader Duterte

People queue up to enter the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 2026. (Photo by Sun Jingjing/Xinhua)

THE HAGUE, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday opened a confirmation of charges hearing for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC said the hearing will last four days. During Monday's session, the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Legal Representatives of Victims delivered oral submissions, outlining their arguments on whether the case should proceed to trial.

Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that he committed the crimes charged. If one or more charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber for the next phase of proceedings. The court is expected to issue its decision within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing.

The 80-year-old Duterte did not attend the hearing in The Hague. Although the judges found him fit to participate in the proceedings, they separately granted a defence request to excuse his personal attendance at the hearing.

Earlier, his legal team had requested an indefinite adjournment of proceedings, including the confirmation hearing, arguing that he was unfit to participate. In response, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I appointed three independent medical experts to examine his condition and received their reports on Dec. 5, 2025. On Jan. 26, 2026, the Chamber concluded that, based on the medical assessments, Duterte "is able to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings."

Duterte served as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested and transferred to ICC custody in March 2025 under a warrant linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign, a move he has challenged. His initial appearance before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I took place on March 14, 2025, and on Nov. 28, 2025, the court rejected an appeal seeking his release on grounds of age and declining health. ■

Cameramen work outside of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 2026. (Photo by Sun Jingjing/Xinhua)