ICC Sets November Trial Date For Rodrigo Duterte Over Drug War Killings

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

The Hague: The International Criminal Court has scheduled November 30 as the start date for the trial of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte over allegations linked to his deadly anti-drug campaign.

Duterte, 81, faces charges of crimes against humanity involving the killings of at least 76 people and the attempted murder of two others during his years-long crackdown on narcotics in the Philippines.

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court say thousands of civilians were killed during anti-drug operations carried out between 2016 and 2022 under Duterte’s administration.

The former president has denied wrongdoing and has repeatedly defended the campaign, saying police officers were instructed to use deadly force only in self-defence.

Duterte was arrested in 2025 and transferred to The Hague, where he remains in ICC detention ahead of trial proceedings.

His legal team has argued that he is medically unfit to stand trial because of cognitive decline, but judges ruled that he is still capable of participating in hearings with adjustments to court schedules and sitting times.

ICC trials often take several years before a final verdict is reached. If convicted, Duterte could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Pic Credit: AFP