ICC rules Duterte fit to stand trial from November 30
Judges at the International Criminal Court ruled on Thursday that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial.
Duterte, 81, will face charges of murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. The trial is set to open on November 30 in The Hague.
An independent panel of medical experts found Duterte able to understand the charges, follow proceedings and instruct his lawyers. The judges noted age-related slowing but rejected the defence claim of cognitive decline.
Prosecutors say he was criminally responsible for the deaths of at least 76 people. Estimates of the total death toll in the anti-drugs campaign range from over 6,000 to 30,000. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. The decision was dated September 28 and made public on October 8. Judges also ordered the court’s medical officer to monitor Duterte’s health continuously.
Context: Duterte was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025, becoming the first former Asian leader sent to the ICC.
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