The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal seeking to overturn a ruling that declared him fit to face pre-trial proceedings.
In a decision released on February 13, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I ruled that Duterte’s arguments were based merely on a “hypothetical scenario” suggesting his health might deteriorate during trial—an assertion the court deemed speculative and insufficient.
The chamber reaffirmed its earlier January 26 ruling that Duterte’s health condition is adequate for him to participate in the proceedings.
The 11-page resolution underscored that Duterte’s legal team failed to raise any “appealable issues” that would justify reconsideration, effectively strengthening the court’s stance that the former president must answer charges linked to alleged crimes committed during his administration’s controversial war on drugs.
The ruling marks another setback for Duterte’s camp as the ICC moves forward with its case, signaling that procedural delays based on health concerns will not be entertained without substantive evidence.
