22-3-2025 (MANILA) Legal experts reckon the International Criminal Court’s case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte faces a complex autumn, as his defence team prepares to mount significant challenges before September’s pre-trial proceedings.
The former leader stands accused of crimes against humanity, specifically the alleged murders of 43 individuals during his controversial anti-narcotics campaign. Prosecutors have labelled him an “indirect coperpetrator” in these deaths.
His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has expressed pessimism regarding prospects for her father’s interim release, even as developments unfold concerning asylum arrangements for one of his potential defence counsels in the Netherlands.
The legal pathway ahead presents several options for Duterte’s team to contest the charges, according to Filipino international law specialists. Central to these potential challenges is the thorny question of jurisdiction, particularly in light of the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
Ruben Carranza, a human rights solicitor with the International Center for Transitional Justice, outlined the critical legal considerations. “The defence might argue whether prior domestic proceedings in the Philippines concerning similar offences should preclude ICC involvement,” he explained to the Inquirer.
The timeline between Duterte’s initial court appearance on 14 March and the September pre-trial hearing offers his legal representatives a substantial window to raise jurisdictional objections and file various motions, including requests for provisional release.
