Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is medically and mentally fit to stand trial. The decision allows the proceedings to move forward on charges of crimes against humanity connected to the brutal “war on drugs” campaign he led during his presidency.
Duterte, now 81, faces accusations of murder and attempted murder linked to dozens of killings. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment. He has consistently denied the charges, maintaining that he only directed police to act in self-defense as part of his anti-drug initiatives.
The Hague-based court announced on Thursday that independent medical experts had evaluated the former leader’s health and concluded he possesses the mental capacity to understand the evidence against him and collaborate with his legal team. “The chamber was satisfied that the accused is able to effectively exercise his fair trial rights in the proceedings,” the court stated.
This ruling comes after Duterte’s defense team previously sought to dismiss the case on medical grounds. They argued that significant memory loss prevented the former president from absorbing new information or reliably recalling past events. Judges also rejected a separate request to release Duterte from custody.
The trial is scheduled to begin on November 30. Duterte was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025 and subsequently transferred to the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague following an extensive investigation. Last month, he appeared in person before the court for the first time.
Estimates of the death toll from the drug crackdown vary widely. Philippine national police reports cite over 6,000 deaths, while human rights organizations have claimed the figure could be as high as 30,000. Prosecutors allege that police units and government-backed hit squads carried out numerous killings under Duterte’s orders, driven by financial incentives or fear of retaliation.
Despite the international legal challenges, Duterte maintained high approval ratings throughout his tenure from 2016 to 2022, which enabled him to pursue his aggressive anti-drug agenda. His arrest marks a historic moment, making him the first Asian former leader to be taken into custody by the ICC, an institution that prosecutes individuals for severe crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
6,000 or 30,000 dead… the death toll discrepancy is staggering. Justice needs to be blind to politics, but can it be?
November 30 seems like a fast track. Do we really know if he can handle a full trial given his age and the memory concerns raised?
Mental fitness cleared? I’m surprised his team’s medical arguments didn’t hold up better against the independent evaluations.
This is truly historic. First Asian former leader to face the ICC. I wonder how the Philippines will react to this verdict?