THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to personally appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on February 23, 2026, for a long-awaited four-day confirmation of charges hearing.
Despite defense attempts to appeal a ruling on his fitness to stand trial, lawyer for the drug war victims Kristina Conti expressed confidence that the proceedings will go ahead as scheduled at the ICC headquarters in The Hague.
Hearing Schedule and Health Considerations The Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC) has implemented specific measures to accommodate the 80-year-old former leader’s medical condition:
- Session Structure: Hearings are scheduled for February 23-24 and February 26-27, with a full-day break on February 25.
- Duration: To prevent physical strain, each hearing day will last only three hours.
- Presence: Conti noted that while Duterte has the right to contest charges, his physical presence is essential for him to understand the process. “If he waives his appearance, then that’s his fault. But as far as I heard, he didn’t request to appear by video,” she said.
Fitness to Stand Trial Last week, the PTC ruled that Duterte is “able to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings.” This decision followed his arrest in March 2025 and his subsequent detention at the Scheveningen prison complex.
- Defense Appeal: Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, has filed a 19-page appeal, arguing that the former president suffered “extraordinary injustice.” The defense claims they were denied access to medical records and that the panel of experts appointed by the court was selected without a clear rationale.
- Neuropsychological Testing: The defense also contested the exclusion of their nominated neuropsychologist from the panel examining Duterte.
Human Rights Context As the hearing approaches, Human Rights Watch released a statement on Wednesday noting that the human rights situation in the Philippines remains concerning under the current administration.
The upcoming February 23 hearing marks a critical milestone in the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s “war on drugs.” For the families of victims, the start of the proceedings represents the culmination of years of waiting for international legal accountability.