![“This [flood control scheme] is a corruption on a scale that we have not seen in the past,” says Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon. “The Napoles scandal is like petty change compared to this.”](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ombudsman_copy_resized-218x150.jpg "FLOOD CONTROL SCANDAL: Ombudsman cases filed vs DPWH staff, contractors")
MANILA – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has stalled the confirmation of charges hearing against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, granting his lawyers’ plea that he is “not fit to stand trial.”
The much-anticipated hearing, initially scheduled for September 23, was deferred by the tribunal’s Pre-Trial Chamber I to resolve Duterte’s request and related issues.
“Following a request from the Defence of Mr. Duterte for an indefinite adjournment of the proceedings alleging that Mr. Duterte is not fit to stand trial, the majority of the Chamber considered that a limited postponement of the hearing on the confirmation of charges was warranted to allow sufficient time to adjudicate the request and related matters,” the ICC said in a statement.
The chamber noted it will set a new date “if applicable” once all pending matters are resolved. Judges Iulia Motoc and Reine Alapini-Gansou favored the postponement, while Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera dissented.
Duterte remains detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity for thousands of killings in his administration’s war on drugs.
Official government figures record more than 6,000 deaths, but rights groups place the toll as high as 30,000, citing unreported and undocumented cases.
The ICC prosecutor has already submitted 12 batches of evidence consisting of hundreds to thousands of items. Over 300 victims of the drug war have applied to be recognized as participants in the case.
The confirmation of charges hearing is a critical step to decide if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial before another chamber./PN
