ICC sets Duterte confirmation of charges hearing Sept. 23

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in the courtroom during his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charge of crimes against humanity over his deadly crackdown on narcotics, in The Hague on March 14, 2025. Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing for former President Rodrigo Duterte on September 23, 2025, while stating that he could file for “interim release.”

Presiding Judge Romanian Iulia Antoanella Motoc announced these developments during Duterte’s pretrial at The Hague.

“At the confirmation of charges hearing you can contest the charges, challenge the evidence provided by the prosecutor and present evidence,” Motoc told Duterte during the proceeding.

READ: Duterte attends ICC pre-trial hearing via video link

Duterte attended the pretrial via video link, with his former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea serving as his legal counsel.

Motoc said there will be no trial if the charges against Duterte are not confirmed.

And, before the trial, she said Duterte can file for interim release.

READ: Duterte’s arrest ‘pure, simple kidnapping,’ Medialdea tells ICC

“You have the possibility to make an application for interim release pending trial,” she further said.

The former president arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday night (Manila time) and was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague.

He was the subject of an arrest warrant by the ICC over crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011 and March 16 2019.

The country was still a party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC accord during this period.

In March 2018, Duterte declared the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute or the treaty which established the criminal court.

LIVE UPDATES: Rodrigo Duterte under trial at ICC

But the withdrawal took effect a year after or in March 2019, so the ICC retained jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the Philippines based on the time when the country was still a member.

The war against illegal drugs that took place during Duterte’s presidential term claimed at least 6,000 lives, according to official government data.

Human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimated the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.

They said several of these incidents were extrajudicial killings.