ICC adopts schedule for confirmation of charges hearing vs. Duterte in February

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I on Tuesday adopted the schedule for the confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his alleged crimes against humanity over his war on illegal drugs.

According to a nine-page document dated January 27, the confirmation of charges will begin on February 23 and run until February 27. 

All hearings will begin at 10 a.m. and every hearing will be divided into three sessions, with 30-minute and 90-minute breaks. 

The Pre-Trial Chamber 1 also allocated the following schedules for the oral presentations of the prosecution, common legal representatives of victims (CLRV), and the defence. 

• Prosecution: 30 minutes for opening statements, 2 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements;
• CLRV: 30 minutes for opening statements, 1 hour and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements; and
• Defence: 30 minutes for opening statements, 3 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements.

Meanwhile, the hearing on the review of detention will be held on February 27, the last day of the hearing.

The ICC chamber said a hearing on the review of detention “must be held at least once every year following the date of the suspect’s initial appearance, which took place on 14 March 2025.” 

Further, the Pre-Trial Chamber 1 said the schedule is subject to change if there would be developments in the proceedings if deemed necessary. 

“Moreover, for the sake of efficiency, in the event that a party or participant does not fully utilise the time allotted to it in the schedule, the next presentation shall commence, even if that presentation is scheduled for the following session or day,” the order added.

“The parties and participants therefore must be able to present their submissions at any time. In the event that the parties wish to use audio or video material, they must liaise with the Registry ahead of time.” 

On Monday, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 declared that Duterte is mentally and physically capable of participating in the pre-trial proceedings in the crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaigns during his terms as President and as Davao City mayor.

In a separate ruling also on Monday, the same chamber ruled that Duterte will remain detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen as there are “no changed or new circumstances” that warrant a modification of its prior decision on Duterte’s detention.

This was following a periodic review of its previous ruling on his detention, which is done at least every 120 days to determine if there are changes in circumstances that would no longer warrant a suspect’s detention. — JMA, GMA Integrated News