Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A person stands by two life-size cardboard cutouts of former Philippines' president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he will be questioned on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on February 23, 2026. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File

Article (news)

Jonathan Magistrado

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17813079427411781307940379.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A person stands by two life-size cardboard cutouts of former Philippines&#x27; president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he will be questioned on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on February 23, 2026. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III has ordered a new, comprehensive medical examination of former President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to stand trial, which is scheduled to start on November 30.</p><p>Duterte faces charges before the ICC in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.  </p><p>The June 12 decision reactivates the same multidisciplinary medical panel that evaluated Duterte during his pre-trial phase. The independent panel consists of experts in forensic psychiatry, geriatric and behavioral neurology, and neuropsychology.</p><p>Hearings for the trial are slated to run on a daily basis, Monday to Friday, in blocks of two to four weeks.</p><p>The defense team requested the evaluation on May 25, arguing that while Duterte was previously found fit for pre-trial proceedings in January, his &quot;condition continues to deteriorate and will need more fully to be reviewed before any trial may commence&quot;. The prosecution did not oppose the reactivation of the original medical panel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/rodrigo-duterte-under-cell-monitoring-due-to-rare-occasions-of-fall-icc-registry-1435">ICC Registry says Duterte’s falls were ‘rare occasions,’ disputes defense claim of ‘frequent episodes’<br/></a></div><p>In the public redacted decision, Presiding Judge Joanna Korner emphasized that the question of fitness is directly tied to an accused individual&#x27;s fundamental right to a fair trial.</p><p>&quot;The concept of &#x27;fitness to stand trial&#x27; must be viewed as an aspect of the broader notion of fair trial which is rooted in the idea that whenever the accused is, for reasons of ill health, unable to meaningfully exercise his or her procedural rights, the trial cannot be fair and criminal proceedings must be adjourned until the obstacles cease to exist,&quot; Chamber III noted. </p><p>The court specified that a meaningful exercise of fair trial rights includes the capacity to understand the charges, follow courtroom proceedings, comprehend evidence, instruct legal counsel, and choose whether to make a statement.</p><p>However, the judges clarified that the law does not require these mental capacities to be at their absolute peak. </p><p>&quot;The threshold is satisfied when an accused possesses these capacities, viewed overall and in a reasonable manner,&quot; the decision stated.</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<br/></a></div><p>The judges also highlighted that under Rome Statute frameworks, a specific diagnosis does not automatically disqualify a defendant.</p><p>&quot;The question of whether an accused is fit to stand trial does not depend, in and of itself, on whether he or she has particular medical conditions, but whether he or she is able to effectively exercise his or her fair trial rights in the proceedings,&quot; the chamber explained.</p><p>The Expert Panel has been instructed to use its December 2025 reports as a baseline to determine how Duterte&#x27;s health has changed, and to specifically evaluate if he can psychologically and physically withstand the full-time trial schedule.</p><p>Additionally, the court requested the experts to detail &quot;measures implemented to prevent, anticipate, and address any potential over-reporting or misrepresentation of symptoms&quot;.  </p><p>The medical experts are ordered to submit their findings to the ICC Registry by August 18, with parties having until August 31 to file their respective observations on the health assessment before Trial Chamber III makes its final determination on whether the high-profile trial will proceed as scheduled in late November.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRIAL CHAMBER III EASES CONTACT RESTRICTIONS</strong></div><p>The chamber has also granted a request by the defense team to modify contact restrictions imposed on Duterte and add person — the name has been redacted —  to a list of non-privileged contacts, allowing communication under conditions previously set by the court.  </p><p>The defense had sought permission for Duterte to communicate with the individual while keeping monitoring measures in place. The prosecution did not oppose the request, provided the current contact restrictions regime remains effective.  </p><p>The ICC Registry also said it had no concerns regarding the request and confirmed it could implement and monitor communications if the individual was reinstated on Duterte’s non-privileged contact list.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/profile-who-is-peter-haynes-duterte-s-new-icc-lawyer-1854">PROFILE: Who is Peter Haynes, Duterte&#x27;s new ICC lawyer?<br/></a></div><p>In its ruling, the chamber noted that detainees have the right to communicate with family members and other persons, receive visits, and maintain correspondence. </p><p>&quot;The Chamber however notes that, these rights are not absolute and may be subject to restrictions if such contact, inter alia,‘[c]ould prejudice or otherwise affect the outcome of the proceedings against a detained person, or any other investigation’, or ‘[i]s a threat to the protection of the rights and freedom of any person.&#x27;&quot;</p><p>The judges said there had been no reported violations by Duterte under the existing restrictions and noted the lack of objections from the prosecution and the victims’ representatives regarding the requested modification.  </p><p>While granting the request, the chamber also ordered the continuation of the current contact restrictions, saying the circumstances that justified the measures remain unchanged.</p>

<p>International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III has ordered a new, comprehensive medical examination of former President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to stand trial, which is scheduled to start on November 30.</p>

International Criminal Court Trial Chamber III has ordered a new, comprehensive medical examination of former President Rodrigo Duterte to determine his fitness to stand trial, which is scheduled to start on November 30.

ICC chamber orders medical exam for Duterte ahead of November trial

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ICC chamber orders medical exam for Duterte ahead of November trial

Jonathan Magistrado,

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2026 08:01 AM PHT

Read More:

International Criminal Court

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC Trial Chamber III

War on drugs

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