The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered a new medical evaluation for former President Rodrigo Duterte to determine if he is healthy enough to stand trial this coming November.
In a 17-page decision issued on Friday, June 12, the ICC’s Trial Chamber III assigned an independent panel of experts to thoroughly evaluate Duterte’s health as his case progresses from the pre-trial phase to the actual trial stage.
The chamber explained that previous medical checkups were only meant to evaluate Duterte’s capacity to participate in pre-trial hearings.
Because a full trial demands a higher legal standard, the court decided that a more stringent review is required.
“Given that the accused is now to stand trial, the Chamber finds that it requires an objective assessment of the accused’s health by independent experts,” the decision stated.
The court reappointed the same multidisciplinary medical panel that conducted the initial health reviews. These experts are instructed to check for any significant changes in Duterte’s medical condition that could affect his participation in the trial, whether his health has deteriorated or stayed the same.
To keep the evaluation objective and independent, the ICC strictly forbade all involved parties from contacting the medical experts without the court’s permission. The panel must also keep all medical data confidential and use it only for their official reports.
The experts must turn in their findings to the court registry by August 18, 2026, and the registry is required to file those reports by August 24, 2026.
The court will use these reports to decide if Duterte is legally fit to stand trial under Rule 135 of the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
The former president faces charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC tied to his administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign and allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings.