MANILA – International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have urged the appointment of a three-member panel of medical specialists to determine whether former president Rodrigo Duterte is mentally and physically fit to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his brutal anti-drug campaign.
In a redacted submission dated September 18, 2025, and made public on October 9, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor said the evaluation team should include experts in forensic psychiatry, neuropsychology, and behavioral neurology. The nine-page document was signed by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.
“The Prosecution supports the appointment of a multidisciplinary panel of experts for the assessment of Mr. Duterte’s fitness to stand trial and suggests that it should consist of at least three experts in the fields of forensic psychiatry, neuropsychology, and behavioural neurology,” the filing stated.
According to prosecutors, the three proposed specialists have confirmed their availability to conduct the evaluation between September and October. The Prosecution also opposed one expert nominated by Duterte’s legal team, warning that her participation could present a “potential bias.”
The ICC Registry earlier clarified that its in-house medical officer was not authorized to assess Duterte’s fitness, prompting the court to seek external experts.
Duterte, who is detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, faces charges of crimes against humanity over the thousands of deaths that occurred during his six-year anti-drug crackdown.
Official police figures place the number of fatalities at more than 6,000, but human rights groups estimate the death toll to be as high as 30,000.
The former president has repeatedly denied ordering extrajudicial killings or sanctioning abuses, insisting that his campaign was a lawful war against illegal drugs.
If approved, the medical evaluation will play a critical role in determining whether Duterte can proceed to trial — a move seen as a major step forward in the ICC’s ongoing probe into the Philippines’ controversial drug war./PN
