The International Criminal Court (ICC) has set the hearing to confirm cases against former president Rodrigo Duterte on February 23. The court made the decision after finding Duterte “fit to stand trial,” based on the recommendation of an independent panel of doctors. The confirmation hearing was first scheduled on September 23, 2025.

The hearing was postponed after Duterte’s lawyers filed a petition for indefinite delay, claiming he was mentally unfit to face trial. Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity for his fake war on drugs. The trial will proceed once the confirmation is concluded.

“This should also end the drama about an old and frail man (Duterte); the Court clearly finds that Duterte is a perceptive person who has a broad understanding of what he has been charged with,” said Atty. Krissy Conti, one of the lawyers representing the families of the victims. “(W)e will be ready for that day, and for every day this case is heard in court.”

This also ends Duterte’s attempts over the past five months to block the trial, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

“Duterte and his ilk have been desperate to stop the proceedings because they have absolutely no defense for the crimes he perpetrated,” Palabay said. “Up to now, he is the same murderous and unrepentant tyrant that he was when he was still in power.”