ICC Appoints Expert Panel To Assess Duterte's Fitness For Trial - Copy
THE HAGUE—The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I has formally appointed a panel of medical experts to evaluate the fitness of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to participate in judicial proceedings. The decision comes as Duterte's defense team seeks an indefinite adjournment of the case, alleging he is not fit to stand trial due to cognitive impairment.
The court order details the appointment of three experts: one in forensic psychiatry, one in neuropsychology, and a third with expertise in geriatric and behavioural neurology and experience examining elderly persons for trial fitness. The identities of the appointed experts were redacted in the public document.
Registry Instructed to Fast-Track Expert's Admission
In a procedural note, the Chamber observed that one of the selected experts is not yet on the ICC's official List of Experts. While noting this does not affect the individual's medical ability to carry out the assessment, the Chamber instructed the Registry to expeditiously proceed with the expert's official admission to the list by no later than 26 September 2025. This action is guided by rules 113(2) and 135(3) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
Court Reserves Final Legal Determination
The Pre-Trial Chamber emphasized that the final determination of whether a suspect is fit to participate in the pre-trial proceedings is exclusively a question of law that falls within the Chamber's remit.
The court noted that this legal determination is based not on the presence of particular medical conditions, but on whether the suspect is able to effectively exercise his or her procedural rights. The Chamber's determination will follow its deliberation on the findings provided by the newly appointed panel of experts.
Context: The Duterte Case
The former president, who was surrendered to the ICC on 12 March 2025, is currently in the court's custody at The Hague. He faces charges of crimes against humanity of murder for his alleged role in the mass killings during the Philippines' "war on drugs" campaign.
Duterte's defense filed a "Request for an Indefinite Adjournment" in August 2025, arguing his condition was irreversible and necessitated a permanent halt to the proceedings. The Chamber had previously postponed the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing, which had been set to begin on 23 September 2025, to allow time to adjudicate the fitness request.
The International Criminal Court has ordered a medical assessment of Duterte amid a defense bid to halt his trial. The video ICC orders medical assessment of Duterte amid bid to halt trial further explains the context of the court's order.
