ADVERTISEMENT
GMA News Online Special
DAY IN COURT: ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte
By GMA Integrated NewsFor the kin of alleged victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, their crusade for justice takes a bold step forward as legal proceedings against the former Philippine leader before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands moves on to the next stage.
The confirmation of charges hearings against Duterte before the tribunal's Pre-Trial Chamber I commenced on February 23, 2026, almost a year after his high-profile arrest in Manila on the strength of an ICC warrant.
ADVERTISEMENT
This is a long time coming for the alleged victims' families, following a series of challenges from the Duterte legal team related to his arrest, asylum bid, fitness to stand trial, and the ICC's jurisdiction over the Philippines, among others.
The chamber's three female judges are tasked to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Duterte committed crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder.
If at least one charge is confirmed, the proceedings move on to the trial stage.
With the fate of the former president, the victims' families, and the Philippine political landscape hanging in the balance, GMA News Online offers "Day in Court: The ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte," a special package featuring reports to inform readers about the ICC process, the key figures, what happened before, what's to come, and the country's relationship with the ICC.
For the petitioners, Duterte's day in court might just lead to a day of reckoning. —Val Veneracion/RSJ GMA Integrated News
Read these GMA News Online reports:
Duterte's confirmation of charges at ICC: What to expect what's next
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I will assess if the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte proceeds to trial based on the conduct of the confirmation of charges hearing against him.
According to the ICC, the Pre-Trial Chamber may decide to do the following at the close of the confirmation of charges hearing:
- Decline to confirm the charges; such a decision does not prevent the Prosecution from presenting a subsequent request for confirmation of the charges on the basis of additional evidence
- Adjourn the hearing and request the Prosecution to consider providing further evidence or conducting further investigation, or amending the charges
- Confirm the charges and commit the case for trial; upon confirmation, the Presidency of the Court constitutes a Trial Chamber responsible for the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.
Duterte is facing charges for crimes against humanity over his controversial drug war, where government records showed that around 6,200 drug suspects were killed while human rights organizations say that numbers reach up to 30,000 due to unreported related slays.
Who are the defense prosecution lawyers in Duterte's ICC case?
The progress of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) temporarily ground to a halt after the tribunal’s Pre-Trial Chamber I allowed a limited adjournment of his confirmation of charges hearing.
The judges came to the decision following a request from Duterte’s lawyers to indefinitely postpone the proceedings, underscoring the critical function of legal counsels in mapping out strategies and counter-strategies in high-profile legal battles.
On one hand is the Prosecution from the ICC, and the Defense on the other. What are their roles within the context of The Hague-based tribunal?
Meet the three female ICC judges who signed the warrant of arrest for Duterte
Three female judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) signed the warrant of arrest for former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity.
They are Judge Iulia Motoc, presiding judge, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Judge Maria del Socorro Flores Liera.
Get to know them below.
TIMELINE: Legal battle at ICC over Duterte's drug war
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity over his administration’s controversial drug war.
The former official’s legal battle began following his arrest in the Philippines and subsequent transfer to the ICC in March 2025. He and his team have since filed numerous motions and pleadings with the court.
GMA News Online looks back on Duterte's first appearance before the international tribunal and the legal developments that took place after.
March 14 2025 — Duterte's first appearance before the ICC took place following his arrest in Manila. He was allowed to attend the session through a video link as he was tired after flying to The Netherlands from the Philippines.
The Pre-Trial Chamber read to Duterte the charges against him. He was also read his rights under the Rome Statute.
The proceedings began at 2:34 p.m. and ended at 2:59 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Chamber set the confirmation of charges on September 23, 2025.
March 19 2025 — British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman was appointed as Duterte's defense counsel. Kaufman's appointment was confirmed on March 17.
March 21 2025 — The Pre-Trial Chamber ordered both the prosecution and the defense to disclose the amount and types of evidence they plan to present, along with the prescribed timeline.
POINTS OF VIEW: Is it time for the Philippines to return to ICC?
Former President Rodrigo Duterte announced in 2018 that the Philippines was pulling out of The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), after the tribunal began a preliminary probe into his administration's drug war.
The ICC Appeals Chamber's denial of Duterte's appeal for interim release, and the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I's rejection of his lawyers' legal challenge, reinforce the principle that the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not exempt him from the court's jurisdiction over the alleged crimes against humanity when the Philippines was still a member.
With the latest developments in the case of the former president, how urgent is it for the Philippines to return to the ICC?
The arguments to expect in Duterte’s charge confirmation hearing
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I has set four hearing days between February 23 and 27 to confirm the charge of crimes against humanity against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Chamber has allowed two sessions of 1.5 hours each per hearing day due to “special measures and adjustments” based on observations by the panel of experts and the detention center’s medical officer.
Based on the documents and observations submitted by the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defense team of Duterte, and the Common Legal Representatives of Victims, here are the expected key arguments on the hearing days.
Making sense of the redactions in Duterte’s ICC case files
Most, if not all, of the files published by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Registry related to the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte have been heavily redacted.
The classified data in the documents, submissions, observations, and other material often reveals a complex tug-of-war between the fundamental right to a public trial and the urgent need to protect sensitive information.
GMA Integrated News has parsed case documents from March 2025 to February 2026 to assess the scale of secrecy and what this reveals to the public about the realities of the case.
Who are Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators named by ICC?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday named the alleged co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the "common plan" to "neutralize alleged criminals" through "violent crimes including murder."
In the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) submitted by the Prosecution — a public lesser redacted version of which was posted on the ICC website — several key personalities were mentioned, including Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Bong Go, and high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s term as Davao City mayor, and later, president of the Philippines.
Who are Duterte’s co-perpetrators, and what are their roles in executing alleged “violent crimes” in the country?