MANILA — The fate of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal battle before the International Criminal Court (ICC) hangs in the balance as its Appeals Chamber is set to rule on April 22 on his challenge to the tribunal’s jurisdiction— a decision that could determine whether proceedings against him will move forward or be halted.
In a scheduling order dated April 2, the court said the decision will be delivered in open session at 11:00 a.m. at its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. The proceedings will also be accessible through a live broadcast on the ICC’s official website.
The order was issued under the authority of Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza.
Duterte is seeking to overturn an earlier ruling that affirmed the ICC’s authority to investigate alleged crimes linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
In October 2025, the court’s Pre-Trial Chamber ruled that it retained jurisdiction over acts committed while the Philippines was still a member of the Rome Statute.
The former president’s legal team has argued that the case should be dismissed, maintaining that the ICC has no legal basis to proceed. His lawyers have also called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Duterte, now 81, has been in custody in The Hague since his arrest in March 2025. He recently marked his second birthday under detention.
He did not attend the confirmation of charges hearings held in late February, citing his continued rejection of the ICC’s authority over him.
The upcoming decision is expected to determine whether the case will move forward or be halted, a key development in one of the most closely watched international legal proceedings involving a former Philippine leader./PN
