Duterte due in ICC courtroom to assess if fit for murder trial
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on September 16, 2026, for the first time since his transfer 18 months prior. Judges will assess his health and fitness to stand trial for murder charges related to his 'war on drugs,' with his lawyers arguing cognitive decline.
Why it matters
This trial represents a significant moment for international justice, holding a former head of state accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, and could set precedents for how international courts handle cases involving high-ranking officials and their health.
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DETAINED AT THE ICC. Rodrigo Duterte attends his first call at the ICC via video link from the Scheveningen prison where he is detained, on March 14, 2025.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Former president Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear in public for the first time on Wednesday, September 16, since being transferred to the International Criminal Court 18 months ago to face murder charges related to his war on drugs.
Duterte, 81, served as president from 2016 to 2022, before being charged with crimes against humanity for creating, funding and arming death squads that targeted narcotics peddlers and users. He was arrested and taken to The Hague in March 2025 .
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