Geline Salac

Former President Rodrigo Duterte takes his oath before the start of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings and alleged human rights violations in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Former President Rodrigo Duterte

Bea Cuadra

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/17591860870541759186081849.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former President Rodrigo Duterte takes his oath before the start of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings and alleged human rights violations in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The defense for former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted new medical records to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that they assert confirm his “cognitive impairment,” a development they say has urgent implications for his legal competency.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/icc-office-of-the-prosecutor-releases-details-of-charges-vs-duterte-0057">Prosecutors charge Duterte with 3 counts of murder &#x27;as crime against humanity&#x27; at ICC</a></div><p>“The Defence makes this present submission subsequent to its email communication to the Pre-Trial Chamber on 18 July 2025 on the same issue,[1] to provide to the Chamber, and enter into the case record, new medical records that have recently come into its possession… The evaluation – performed by a medical professional whose qualifications are unknown to the Defence – confirm, as long suspected, cognitive impairment,” as explained in the document. </p><div><br/></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/ACgA3B7DYt8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>In a document titled “Defence Submission of Medical Reports,” counsel Nicholas Kaufman stated the submission was made with urgency, citing the relevance of the records to the issue of whether Mr. Duterte is legally competent to stand trial.</p><p>The submission follows a previous urgent request to suspend adjudication on interim release until all medical records, including a neuropsychological evaluation, were before the court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/icc-postpones-duterte-s-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-1938">&#x27;Not fit to stand trial?&#x27; ICC postpones Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing</a></div><p>“These documents were also at issue in the Defence’s urgent request to suspend adjudication on interim release until Mr Duterte’s medical records – including, inter alia, a neuropsychological evaluation by its proposed expert – were in front of the Chamber,” said in the document.</p><div><br/></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/II3ZH7dpWWk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The report, from a medical professional appointed by the ICC Detention Centre&#x27;s own medical officer, states the evaluation confirms “cognitive impairment,” as long suspected by the defense.</p><p>This finding, the defense notes, “corroborating and supporting the findings of [REDACTED]’s report of 29 May 2025.”</p><p>The document further states that both medical professionals involved agree on the existence of the impairment, even without a consensus on its severity or cause.</p><p>“Indeed, even in an absence of clarity or consensus on aetiology or severity, both medical professionals agree on the existence of the impairment itself.”</p><p>Mr. Kaufman argues that the specific cognitive faculties affected are “precisely those required to work on his legal case and with his Defence team.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/icc-grants-limited-postponement-of-duterte-s-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-1931">Lawyer cites Duterte’s &#x27;cognitive impairment&#x27; in request to adjourn ICC proceedings</a></div><p>The defense’s claims had previously been described by the prosecution as &quot;serious unsubstantiated allegations regarding the condition of the client.&quot;</p><p>However, the defense insists the new annexed reports “quite evidently prove otherwise,” stating that the medical findings are, on the contrary, “objective and corroborated by the neuropsychologist appointed by the ICCDC itself.”</p><p>Given the findings, the defense concludes that Mr. Duterte’s cognitive impairment is significant enough to warrant litigation on the matter before a confirmation hearing can proceed.</p><p>The documents were formally entered into the case record on September 29, 2025.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></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/rn2OGud27os?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/3M0qdJZ6-sI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The defense for former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted new medical records to the ICC that they assert confirm his “cognitive impairment,” a development they say has urgent implications for his legal competency.</p>

The defense for former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted new medical records to the ICC that they assert confirm his “cognitive impairment,” a development they say has urgent implications for his legal competency.

Duterte’s defense submits medical reports citing 'cognitive impairment' to Court

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Duterte’s defense submits medical reports citing 'cognitive impairment' to Court

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 30, 2025 06:59 AM PHT

|

Updated September 30, 2025 07:48 AM PHT

Read More:

ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

The Hague

international criminal court

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