Ched Rick Gatchalian

Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte appearing for the first time before the ICC judges on 14 March 2025. Image from the International Criminal Court

 

Article (news)

ICC orders medical exam to assess Duterte’s fitness for pre-trial proceedings

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760704060708duterte.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte appearing for the first time before the ICC judges on 14 March 2025. <em>IICC-CPI handout/file</em></p><div><br/></div><div></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered a medical examination on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to participate in pre-trial proceedings, including the confirmation of charges. </p><p>The decision follows a series of filings and deliberations under Pre-Trial Chamber I, culminating in a detailed directive on the appointment of a multidisciplinary panel of medical experts.</p><p>The Chamber, composed of Judges Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and María del Socorro Flores Liera, instructed the Registry to facilitate the medical examination and provide Duterte&#x27;s complete records to a panel of three independent medical experts.</p><p>The medical panel consists of a forensic psychiatrist, a neuropsychologist, and a geriatric and behavioral neurologist who will determine if Duterte is fit to participate in the pre-trial proceedings.</p><p>They will assess whether Duterte is suffering from any medical condition that could affect his participation in the ongoing pre-trial phase and the confirmation of charges. </p><p>They are also expected to recommend any special measures needed to accommodate his possible condition during the proceedings. </p><p>The ICC said this is part of ensuring &quot;fair trial rights&quot; for the former Philippine leader. </p><p>Meanwhile, the names of the experts were redacted in the public document.</p><p>&quot;The Chamber instructs the Panel to only utilise the information it receives for the purpose of formulating its reports, and orders it not to divulge any information without prior approval of the Chamber. Moreover, in order to maintain the impartiality of the Panel, the parties and participants shall refrain from any contact with the appointed experts,&quot; the decision read.</p><p>The Chamber expects a joint or individual reports from the panel that shall be filed on the record by the Registry before October 31.</p><p>Duterte’s defense team, the Prosecution, and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) may submit observations of up to 10 pages on the panel’s report before November 5. The Chamber emphasized that no further submissions on Duterte’s health are expected beyond this date.</p><p>The Chamber earlier denied the Defense’s request to grant Duterte interim release.</p><p>Among the reasons cited for his continued detention were Duterte’s alleged “contention” of his arrest and detention, and his family’s efforts to “delegitimise the Court’s proceedings” against him.</p><p>Duterte was arrested on March 11  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the ICC as part of its probe into his &quot;war on drugs&quot; that defined his presidency.</p><p>The ICC warrant for Duterte&#x27;s arrest said that as president, Duterte allegedly created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.</p><p>He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.</p><p>Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. </p><p>Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing, which was supposed to be held last September 23, was postponed to a later date, citing a request from Duterte&#x27;s defense team.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qXBleBgGKkA??si=T8ugffvJKF_4-Cpa&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered a medical examination on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to participate in pre-trial proceedings, including the confirmation of charges.</p>

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered a medical examination on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to participate in pre-trial proceedings, including the confirmation of charges.

ICC orders medical exam on Duterte

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ICC orders medical exam on Duterte

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 17, 2025 08:07 PM PHT

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Updated October 17, 2025 08:27 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

Medical exam

Duterte at ICC

Drug war

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