Metro Manila, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear before the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, Oct. 13, as judges assess whether the prosecution, defense and victims’ representatives are ready for his crimes against humanity trial scheduled to begin on Nov. 30.
ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti told The Newsmaker in an earlier interview that Duterte was expected to attend the status conference following the court’s finding that he was fit to stand trial.
“Sa Tuesday po ay inaasahan na present ulit si Duterte. Lalo na itong finding ng medical experts ay wala namang problema sa kanya,” Conti said.
[Translation: Duterte is expected to be present again on Tuesday, especially since medical experts found no problem with his ability to participate.]
However, Conti noted that judges could excuse Duterte from attending if he experienced health problems.
The ICC has scheduled the hearing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in The Hague, with an additional session from noon to 1:30 p.m. if necessary. In Manila, the proceedings would run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a possible extension from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
According to the chamber’s agenda, judges will discuss the daily sitting schedule for the trial’s opening statements and the first block of evidence in December 2026.
The prosecution will also be asked to address its witness list and the number of hours it needs to present its case, while the defense and common legal representatives of victims will provide their own estimates.
The chamber will examine the defense’s responses to applications under Rule 68, which governs the admission of previously recorded testimony, as well as requests for protective measures for witnesses appearing in court.
Other agenda items include the prosecution’s disclosure of evidence, observations on recent court filings and the Registry’s capacity to support the proceedings.
Judges will also receive an update on interpretation services for the start of trial, a key logistical requirement for proceedings involving witnesses and participants speaking different languages.
The defense is expected to make submissions on its readiness for the Nov. 30 trial, following months of legal challenges over Duterte’s fitness to participate and the scope of the charges against him.
The hearing comes after Trial Chamber III ruled that Duterte was fit to stand trial based on the unanimous findings of independent medical experts.
In a separate Oct. 9 decision, the chamber rejected the defense’s challenge to the framing of the crimes against humanity charges but ordered prosecutors to remove one of eight additional alleged drug war incidents from their case.
Duterte last appeared in person before ICC judges during the Sept. 16 status conference.
Conti earlier described mixed emotions among families of drug war victims who watched the former president’s appearance in court.
“Halo-halo yung pakiramdam,” she said.
[Translation: There were mixed feelings.]
She said some relatives initially felt fear upon seeing Duterte, whom they associate with the deaths of their loved ones during the anti-drug campaign.
“Dahil ito ang taong nag-utos na ipapatay ang mga kaanak nila. Ito ang tao na naging mukha ni kamatayan sa panahon ng war on drugs,” Conti said.
[Translation: Because this is the person they believe ordered their relatives killed. This is the person who became the face of death during the war on drugs.]
The ICC said Tuesday’s proceedings would be streamed on its official website with a 30-minute delay, with audiovisual recordings to be made available afterward.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving alleged murders and attempted murders during his tenure as Davao City mayor and Philippine president.
He remains detained in The Hague while awaiting trial.
