The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution team is pushing to begin the trial of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on November 30, 2026, according to a recent 17-page filing submitted on May 15.
Prosecutors informed the court that they expect to wrap up major pre-trial preparations by September 30, creating a two-month window before the proposed commencement of the proceedings. If the schedule is approved, the case would become one of the fastest in ICC history to move to trial following the confirmation of charges.
The development follows an April 23 decision by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, which officially confirmed the crimes against humanity charges against Duterte in connection with his administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
Defense Appeals for Delay
Duterte’s legal counsel has strongly opposed the timeline, urging the chamber to defer setting a trial date due to the former leader’s declining health.
In a separate submission, defense counsel Atty. Peter Haynes argued that Duterte’s medical condition has worsened since the conclusion of the pre-trial phase. Haynes insisted that a fresh evaluation is necessary, despite Pre-Trial Chamber I previously ruling that the former president was fit to face the proceedings.
“Whilst a determination of Mr Duterte’s competence was undertaken during the pre-trial phase on the basis of written reports, his condition continues to deteriorate and will need more fully to be reviewed before any trial may commence,” the defense stated.
Victims Push for Earlier Start
While the defense seeks a postponement, representatives for those affected by the administration’s drug war are angling for a swifter resolution. The Common Legal Representatives of Victims communicated to the court that their preference would be for the high-profile trial to start as early as September.
The ICC judges will now have to weigh the prosecution’s brisk timeline and the victims’ clamor for justice against the defense’s medical claims before finalizing the trial date.