Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Jofelle Tesorio

Carmelle Lacuata

ABS-CBN News

<p>(2ND UPDATE) The trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity in relation to his administration&#x27;s bloody war on drugs will start November 30, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III announced Wednesday.</p><p>Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said Hearings will be held daily until the December break, but added that the proceedings will depend on experts&#x27; recommendation.</p><p>With regard to the examination of Duterte&#x27;s fitness for trial, the court said the Office of the Prosecutor and the defense will issue a joint letter of instruction to the panel of experts who will examine the former President. </p><p>The three medical experts who have examined Duterte consist of a forensic psychiatrist, a neuropsychologist, and a geriatric and behavioral neurologist.</p><p>During the hearings, a Filipino court interpretation will be available for the opening statements.</p><p>The ICC Trial Chamber III will hold the next status conference on June 23 and July 14.</p><p>The trial chamber earlier held a status conference on the trial, wherein it opened the discussion with the Office of the Prosecutor, the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims, and the Duterte&#x27;s defense team.</p><p>Korner allowed the parties to explain their proposals, with the prosecution proposing a November 30 start for the trial, while the OPCV wants the trial to start in September.</p><p>The Registry said it would wanted a later date, January 2027, since it has yet to train language interpreters.</p><p>The defense team did not give any preferred date, saying only that it does not seem that &quot;the start of the trial could not be this year&quot; based on previous trials.</p><p>In explaining the November 30 start of the trial, Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls said they need time to finish and fulfill all the tasks they need to do before the start of the trial.</p><p>In response, Duterte’s new lead counsel Peter Haynes said that there should be at least three months between the deadline for the submission of disclosures and the actual start of the trial.</p><p>Korner said Duterte’s health is a primary reason why the chamber wants to start the trial as soon as possible.</p><p>Aside from the start date of the trial, other issues such as the anticipated evidence, and Rule 68 procedures, which allow the use of prior recorded testimony under specific safeguards, are expected to be discussed during the status conference.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/5/27/icc-chamber-urges-parties-in-duterte-trial-to-streamline-evidence-1714">ICC chamber urges parties in Duterte trial to streamline evidence</a></div><p>Duterte did not attend the status conference, after his legal team officially filed a public notification of his signed waiver before ICC Trial Chamber III on Monday, May 25. </p><p>The notification was formally communicated to the Office of the Prosecutor and the Registry under case number ICC-01/21-01/25, which handles the ongoing situation in the Republic of the Philippines. </p><p>With regard to the expert examination of Duterte&#x27;s fitness for trial, the court said the Office of the Prosecutor and the defense will issue a joint letter of instruction to the panel of experts who will examine the former President.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/icc-judges-reject-defense-request-to-leave-to-appeal-decision-confirming-charges-in-duterte-case-2226">ICC judges reject defense plea to appeal decision confirming charges vs Duterte</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FLIGHT RISK</strong></div><p>The ICC earlier ordered the continued detention of Duterte, citing higher risk of flight and obstruction of justice.  </p><p>In an eight-page decision dated May 22, 2026, the ICC Trial Chamber III said there were no significant changes in circumstances that would justify Duterte’s release, with or without conditions.  </p><p>The chamber noted that while charges against Duterte were confirmed in April 2026, this actually increased the risk that he might abscond, rather than support arguments for interim release. </p><p>The ICC also underscored Duterte’s continued refusal to recognize the court’s jurisdiction, noting this raised concerns about his willingness to comply with conditions if released.</p><p>Judges further pointed to Duterte’s international connections, resources, and support network in the Philippines, which they said could enable him to evade justice or interfere with proceedings.</p><p>Duterte has been in ICC custody since March 2025 following his surrender to the Court in connection with a warrant of arrest linked to alleged crimes against humanity while he was mayor of Davao City and during his administration&#x27;s anti-drug campaign while he was President of the Philippines. </p><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/0CoxYE5QFkM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity in relation to his administration's bloody war on drugs will start November 30, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced Wednesday.</p>

The trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity in relation to his administration's bloody war on drugs will start November 30, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced Wednesday.

Duterte's ICC trial to start November 30

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Duterte's ICC trial to start November 30

Jofelle Tesorio,

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2026 08:28 PM PHT

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Updated May 27, 2026 08:52 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

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