ICC: Duterte fit for pre-trial proceedingsMANILA, Philippines — After months of delay, the confirmation of charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte will finally push through next month after International Criminal Court judges found him fit to participate in pre-trial proceedings. In a 25-page decision released yesterday, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously denied the defense’s request to indefinitely adjourn the proceedings due to Duterte’s supposed cognitive impairment. It relied on reports submitted by the independent panel of medical experts, which was formed to determine Duterte’s fitness to participate in pre-trial proceedings. “Read holistically… the Chamber is satisfied that Mr. Duterte does have the ability to understand the charges against him and is able effectively to exercise his procedural rights,” it added. In their ruling, the pre-trial judges rejected the defense’s arguments that the medical experts’ findings cannot be considered as “dispositive” due to supposed contradictions.

Source: Philippine Star January 26, 2026 16:02 UTC