Frail Duterte Delays ICC Hearing

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Frail Duterte Delays ICC Hearing

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | September 10, 2025

THE HAGUE – A pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been postponed indefinitely, citing health concerns that have ignited debate over the pursuit of justice and potential political interference.

The hearing, originally scheduled for Sept. 23, was to address charges of crimes against humanity stemming from Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaign, a crackdown that left thousands dead and sparked international condemnation.

Duterte’s legal team successfully argued that the 80-year-old former leader is currently unfit to participate in the proceedings, prompting ICC judges to grant a postponement pending further evaluation of his capacity to engage in the trial.

The decision has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with the victims’ families expressing dismay and political analysts questioning the timing and implications of the delay.

Duterte, the first former Asian leader to face charges before the ICC, has been in custody since his March arrest in Manila and is currently detained at the ICC’s facility in the Netherlands.

He appeared frail and silent during the initial hearing, attending via video link.

The ICC investigation centers on the alleged systematic extrajudicial killings committed during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao and later as president.

While official police reports cite over 6,000 deaths in anti-drug operations, human rights organizations estimate the real toll could be as high as 30,000.

ICC prosecutors argue that Duterte’s “war on drugs” constituted a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population” in the Philippines.

The postponement has been met with disappointment and frustration by the families of victims who perished in Duterte’s campaign.

Kristina Conti, a lawyer representing the victims’ families, voiced her concerns about the indefinite delay.

“We expected Duterte would seek to delay (his case), but the fact that he succeeded in convincing the pretrial chamber is alarming,” Conti said.

The situation has also amplified political tensions in Manila, with critics accusing current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of tacitly enabling Duterte’s surrender to the ICC, potentially as a means of distancing himself from the controversial legacy of his predecessor.

The court now faces the complex task of determining whether the trial can proceed, weighing the former president’s health against the imperative of accountability for alleged atrocities.

The outcome will undoubtedly have significant implications for international justice and the pursuit of human rights in the Philippines and beyond.