MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally set the opening of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity trial on Nov. 30, 2026, bringing the controversial anti-drug campaign of his administration a major step closer to full judicial proceedings before the Hague-based tribunal.
The trial date was announced Wednesday night by ICC Trial Chamber III during the first status conference in Duterte’s case involving alleged crimes committed during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as Philippine president.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said the chamber was prepared to proceed with the prosecution’s proposed trial opening schedule.
“The start of trial, we are prepared to accede to the prosecution’s application of the 30th of November as the start of trial,” Korner said.
She added that hearings are expected to run daily until the court’s judicial recess.
Despite the scheduled opening, the chamber said Duterte’s ability to stand trial remains dependent on the results of further medical examinations sought by the defense team.
“We have to wait for the report on the accused fitness and they will specifically be asked to – if they find him fit to stand trial,” Korner said.
During the conference, ICC prosecutors pushed for the Nov. 30 schedule, while Duterte’s lawyers refrained from proposing an alternative date pending the outcome of the health assessment.
Lawyers representing victims earlier requested a September 2026 trial opening, while the ICC Registry proposed moving the proceedings to January 2027 due to concerns regarding the availability of interpreters.
Korner also directed the ICC Registry to ensure that opening statements would be understandable to audiences in the Philippines, underscoring the international significance and local public interest surrounding the proceedings.
“Even if there isn’t a sufficient pool of interpreters of the witnesses, I think it’s important that opening statements can be understood by those in the Philippines,” she said.
The prosecution had earlier requested the immediate hiring of interpreters so proceedings could be broadcast in Tagalog.
Trial Chamber III also laid down key pre-trial deadlines ahead of the November proceedings.
Prosecutors were ordered to submit a provisional list of witnesses and evidence by June 29, while the final list of witnesses, evidence, experts, and additional incidents must be filed by Aug. 31.
ICC Prosecutor and Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls said prosecutors may still introduce additional incidents into the case, although these would reportedly remain limited.
“But I think it will be a few. Some of them are related to existing witnesses… Some is material that is coming soon but that fits perfectly within the theory and is really part of the same case,” Nicholls said.
Korner, however, warned prosecutors against introducing evidence beyond the prescribed deadlines without proper justification and prior authorization from the chamber.
The judge also questioned the prosecution’s intention to submit 197 speeches as documentary evidence, saying the number appeared excessive. Prosecutors later indicated that the list would likely be reduced.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense team was given until Oct. 30 to submit its indication of issues for trial.
The 81-year-old former president did not attend the status conference after formally waiving his right to appear.
Additional status conferences were scheduled on June 23 and July 14 as preparations continue for one of the most closely watched international criminal proceedings involving a former Philippine head of state./PN
