ICC assures fair, impartial trial for Duterte

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May 3, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte will have ample time to prepare for his upcoming trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a court spokesperson.

In an interview with The STAR, ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet assured the public of a fair, impartial and independent trial for the former president.

“The trials at the ICC can be complex, (it) may take a little bit longer than at national level because of the type of crimes that require a large amount of evidence to be presented in court, and some of the challenges that can be met during the proceedings,” she said.

“But we are committed to holding a fair and independent trial, impartial trial, where the defense will have enough time to prepare for its case and where the rights of the victims will be upheld,” she added.

Last April 23, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed all charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte, paving the way for a full-blown trial.

The Trial Chamber III, which was constituted following the decision, will hold its first status conference on May 27.

Maillet said it will be up to the trial judges to set schedule for the opening of the trial, based on the submissions of parties to the case.

“There are many issues that need to be resolved before being able to start the trial. And really, they’ll have to see what is best for the parties to be ready for the trial. And it will really depend on the circumstances of the case, so let’s wait and see,” she added.

Public trial

Maillet said Duterte’s trial will be public, with the proceedings streamed online with some delay.

“The judges may decide to hold certain hearings in closed session. If they feel some information needs to be protected – certain sensitive evidence, confidential evidence – or, if there’s a need to protect the witnesses or the victims, some sessions may be held in closed sessions. But the principle is that it is a public trial,” the ICC spokesperson said.

As a rule, the accused’s presence is required during trial, but Maillet said the final decision is with the judges.