Duterte at the ICC: Key dates to remember

All eyes are on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it weighs former president Rodrigo Duterte’s capability to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his deadly drug war.

Two key developments in recent months include the ICC upholding its jurisdiction over the crimes against humanity case against Duterte, and the subsequent rejection by the pre-trial and appeals chambers of the former president’s request for an interim release.

At the heart of the defense team’s strategy is the argument that Duterte, whose violent drug war resulted in nearly 30,000 deaths, is medically and cognitively unfit to stand trial. To address this claim, the ICC has set a series of key deadlines and procedural milestones.

Rappler has compiled the important dates to keep track of, in the ongoing Duterte proceedings at the ICC. This page will be updated as more information comes in. For other ICC-related developments, you can read Rappler’s timeline.

December 5, 2025 – Deadline for experts’ report on Duterte’s health

This is the deadline for the panel of experts to submit a report on Rodrigo Duterte’s medical condition. The date was set by the ICC pre-trial chamber in connection with one of the arguments raised by Duterte’s camp, that the former president is unfit to stand trial because he has allegedly lost critical cognitive abilities due to his age.

The panel, composed of three neuropsychiatry experts, has been tasked with determining whether this claim is valid.

The court finalized the panel members, whose names remain redacted, on November 14, 2025. This comes after earlier decisions to replace two previously appointed experts.

One expert was removed because of his “social media activity” that “renders him unsuitable to act as an expert in the Panel, since such activity is objectively incompatible with the independence, professionalism and impartiality necessary to perform duties before the Court.”

The second was challenged by the defense team due to an “active and ongoing suspension…by her professional regulatory body.” The court agreed to remove her, noting that her suspension and failure to disclose it were “inappropriate. The chamber added that keeping her on the panel would “necessarily entail further litigation that would delay the process.”

December 12, 2025 – Concerned parties’ observations on panel report, court goes on break

Duterte’s defense team, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the ICC’s Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) are set to submit their observations on the expert panel’s report regarding Duterte’s medical condition.

Within the ICC context, observations refer to comments, legal opinions, or other insights that the court may consider in its decision-making process. The pre-trial chamber has instructed the parties in Duterte’s case to limit their submissions to a maximum of 10 pages.

December 12, 2025 also marks the last day before the ICC enters its judicial recess, according to the court’s website. This means that court proceedings will be temporarily suspended during this period.

January 5, 2025 – Court resumes operations

ICC proceedings are expected to resume after a three-week judicial recess. 

But while January 5, 2026 marks the earliest possible date for the court to reconvene, there is no guarantee that any decisions related to Duterte’s case will be issued immediately. 

The date simply signals when deliberations could continue. The timing of rulings will depend on the court’s internal schedule and the complexity of the issues under consideration. – Rappler.com