ICC Prosecutors Oppose Indefinite Delay of Duterte Trial Over Health

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing a legal standoff over former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's trial for crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs. Duterte’s defense team has requested an indefinite adjournment of the proceedings, citing his deteriorating health and cognitive impairments that allegedly render him unfit to stand trial. His lead lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, emphasized that Duterte suffers from significant cognitive deficiencies affecting his memory and executive function, arguing that no further medical evaluations are necessary and that the trial should be shelved indefinitely. However, ICC prosecutors oppose an indefinite delay, asserting that court proceedings cannot be postponed solely based on defense reports and that they are engaging their own medical experts to assess Duterte’s fitness to participate. They accept a brief adjournment only to allow the court to promptly determine his ability to stand trial, emphasizing the need for the case to move forward without undue delay. The ICC has postponed the scheduled hearing initially set for September 23, 2025, to assess these health claims but has not set a new date for proceedings.