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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ICC prosecution says Duterte fit to stand trial, defense disagrees

ICC prosecution says Duterte fit to stand trial, defense disagrees

Published Dec 19, 2025 02:57 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (ICC Photos)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (ICC Photos)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution has told judges that former president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to participate in pre-trial proceedings, citing the findings of an independent panel of medical experts.
In a nine-page filing before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said the panel concluded that Duterte, while elderly and frail, remains capable of meaningfully exercising his procedural and fair trial rights.
“Upon completion of their assessments, Panel members individually reached the same overall conclusion that, while frail and elderly, Mr. Duterte nevertheless possesses the necessary capacities to meaningfully exercise his procedural and fair trial rights,” Niang said.
According to the prosecution, the experts found that Duterte can understand the charges and evidence against him, comprehend the conduct, purpose, and possible consequences of the pre-trial proceedings, and instruct his lawyers in preparing and presenting his defense.
Based on these findings, the prosecution asked the pre-trial chamber to move forward with the case, including the confirmation of charges hearing.

Defense disputes medical findings

Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, challenged the prosecution’s reading of the medical assessment, arguing that the panel’s joint report should not be treated as conclusive.
In a separate 12-page submission, Kaufman said the experts used differing methodologies that conflicted with one another, casting doubt on the reliability of their shared conclusion.
“Such internal inconsistencies undermine the overall weight of the general joint conclusion on fitness,” he said.
The defense requested an evidentiary hearing to allow the parties to question the experts on their conclusions, reasoning, and methods before the court decides.

Judges yet to decide

The ICC judges have not yet ruled on whether Duterte is fit to stand trial or on the defense's request to adjourn proceedings due to alleged cognitive decline.
The three-member medical panel was convened by the court to independently assess Duterte’s condition after the defense raised concerns about his capacity to participate in the case.
Duterte, arrested in March this year, is facing an ICC case over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign between 2016 and 2019, proceedings that have continued despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019.

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