Judges at the International Criminal Court have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial for crimes against humanity over his “war on drugs”. His lawyers had argued that memory loss left him unable to take part. The trial is due to open on November 30.

Judges at the International Criminal Court have found former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte fit to stand trial, Al Jazeera reported, citing news agencies.

He faces charges of crimes against humanity over the so-called “war on drugs” he waged while in office. The trial is scheduled to open on November 30.

The Ruling

The court in The Hague said on Thursday, October 8, that independent medical experts had examined the 81-year-old and concluded that he was mentally fit to understand the evidence and to discuss his defence with his lawyers.

“The chamber was satisfied that the accused is able to effectively exercise his fair trial rights in the proceedings,” the court said.

His legal team had tried to have the case thrown out on medical grounds, arguing that serious memory loss had left him unable to absorb new information or reliably recall the past.

Judges also refused a request for him to be released from custody.

The Charges

Duterte is accused of murder and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Prosecutors say that police and government hit squads carried out dozens of killings on his orders, motivated by the promise of money or by fear of becoming targets themselves.

Duterte denies the charges. He says he ordered police to act only in self-defence during the campaign.

The Death Toll

Estimates of how many people died in the crackdown during his presidency vary widely:

  • More than 6,000, according to the Philippine national police
  • Up to 30,000, according to human rights groups

How He Came to The Hague

Duterte was president from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025 and sent to the ICC’s headquarters after a lengthy investigation by the court.

He appeared before the court in person for the first time last month.

He is the first former Asian leader to be arrested by the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the gravest crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Legal Position

The charges have not been proven. Duterte is presumed innocent unless and until the court finds otherwise.

Image: Rodrigo Duterte as president in 2016 (file photo). Photo by Karl Norman Alonzo/PPD via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.