Confirmation of charges in Duterte ICC case begins February 23, 2026

The confirmation of charges in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands will start on Monday, February 23. 

According to the ICC website, the confirmation of charges will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Hague local time time (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. PH time), before the Pre-Trial Chamber I in Courtroom I. 

The subsequent hearings will be on Feb. 24 (Tuesday), 26 (Thursday), and 27 (Friday). 

The Prosecution, the Defence, and the victims’ lawyers will explain their arguments to the judges.

READ: Who are the defense, prosecution lawyers in Duterte's ICC case?

They will have the following allocated time for oral presentation: 

- Prosecution: 30 minutes for opening statements, 2 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements

- Common legal representatives of the victims (CLRV): 30 minutes for opening statements, 1 hour and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements;

- Defence: 30 minutes for opening statements, 3 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits and 30 minutes for closing statements.

ICC said the schedule may change if needed, depending on how the proceedings develop.

The hearing can be watched online with a 30-minute delay on the ICC website, Facebook, and YouTube.

“The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged,” ICC said.

“If one or more of the charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Chamber set February 16 as the deadline for submitting arguments, objections, and comments in the former president's case.

Duterte is currently detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the killings during his administration's war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. 

The ICC recently named Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Bong Go; former police officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, and Isidro Lapeña; former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran; former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II; and other members of the Philippine National Police and high-ranking officials as Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators in the "common plan" to "neutralize alleged criminals" through "violent crimes including murder."

READ: Who are Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators named by ICC? 

Go on Saturday disputed the allegations saying the ICC document was "unfounded" and "unfair."

Aguirre denied participating in alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the controversial drug war of Duterte. 

Cascolan passed away on November 24, 2023. —KG, GMA Integrated News