ICC sets November 30 trial date for Philippines' Duterte over alleged crimes against humanity

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have set November 30 as the start date for the trial of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The 81-year-old faces charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his deadly war on drugs.

Prosecutors allege that Duterte is responsible for the murders of at least 76 people and the attempted murder of two others. These alleged crimes occurred during his administration's anti-narcotics campaign, which is said to have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians between 2016 and 2022.

Duterte, who has consistently defended his crackdown and maintained that police were only instructed to kill in self-defense, waived his right to be present at Wednesday's hearing. He was arrested and taken to The Hague in March 2025 and is currently held in the ICC's detention center.

While Duterte's lawyers have argued he is unfit to stand trial due to cognitive decline, the court has previously ruled that he can participate in proceedings with some adjustments. If convicted, the former president faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment, the maximum penalty available at the ICC, the world's only permanent war crimes court.