Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

(UPDATED) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s challenge regarding the court&#x27;s jurisdiction.The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I decision, issued October 23, 2025, affirms the court&#x27;s authority to continue the case against the former President for alleged crimes against humanity. &quot;The Chamber finds that the Court can exercise its jurisdiction in the present case over the crimes alleged against Mr Duterte that were committed on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party,&quot; the Chamber said in its ruling. In a 32-page decision, the Pre-Trial Chamber 1 also turned down the defense&#x27;s request to postpone the issuance of decision while waiting for the determination of Duterte&#x27;s ability to participate in the pre-trial proceedings.The court&#x27;s ruling means the case will proceed at The Hague.Duterte&#x27;s defense attorney Nicholas Kaufman earlier argued that the preconditions for the exercise of jurisdiction in the Philippines were not met at the time the Pre-Trial Chamber authorized the opening of an investigation back in 2021.But the chamber said that the then Prosecutor announced that she was opening an investigation into the Philippines Situation on February 8, 2018 and “analyse crimes allegedly committed in this State Party since at least 1 July 2016, in the context of Duterte&#x27;s &quot;war on drugs&quot; campaign.A few weeks later, the Duterte administration submitted a written notification of withdrawal from the Statute on March 17, 2018, citing the government&#x27;s &quot;principled stand against those who politicize and weaponize human rights, even as its independent and well-functioning agencies exercise jurisdiction over complaints and concerns arising from its efforts to protect its people.&quot;&quot;Based upon the above facts, the Chamber considers that there is a direct relationship between the Prosecutor’s announcement of the opening of the preliminary examination and the decision of the Philippines to withdraw from the Statute,&quot; said the court. &quot;This apparent action to avoid compliance with the Statute is what article 127 of the Statute, read as a whole, is designed to prevent.&quot;&quot;As a result of the Prosecution’s preliminary examination having commenced prior to both the Philippines depositing its written notification of withdrawal from the Statute and the date on which that withdrawal became effective, the Chamber finds that the Court can exercise its jurisdiction in the present case over the crimes alleged against Mr Duterte that were committed on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party.&quot;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.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.He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. 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. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has rejected the request of Duterte&#x27;s defense team for his interim release.<div> </div><div><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> </div>

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's challenge regarding the court's jurisdiction.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's challenge regarding the court's jurisdiction.

ICC rejects Duterte's jurisdiction challenge

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ICC rejects Duterte's jurisdiction challenge

Bea Cuadra,

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 23, 2025 11:55 PM PHT

|

Updated November 01, 2025 01:56 PM PHT

Read More:

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ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

war on drugs

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