The International Criminal Court (ICC) orders another medical examination of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to assess whether he is fit to stand trial. Multiple outlets report that an ICC Trial Chamber directs a panel of medical experts to conduct a clinical review, aimed at determining Duterte’s fitness ahead of the start of trial proceedings in November. GMA News and Bloomberg state the court links the reassessment to the trial date approaching on November 30, 2026, with proceedings scheduled on a daily basis until a judicial recess.
Inquirer and Philstar report that the ICC appoints medical professionals to reassess Duterte, and Inquirer specifies that the panel consists of three doctors that were also used during an earlier pretrial stage. The South China Morning Post notes this is the second health check ordered by the ICC, referencing a prior finding in January regarding Duterte’s fitness.
Duterte is facing ICC charges of crimes against humanity connected to alleged killings during the government’s anti-drug campaign while he was president.
