ICC to rule on Duterte case in 60 days

Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue a written decision within 60 days on whether to confirm charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, following four days of hearings before Pre-Trial Chamber I.

- By ARGYLL GEDUCOS

The confirmation hearing, which concluded on February 27, examined whether there are substantial grounds to believe Duterte committed crimes against humanity in connection with the country's anti-drug campaign between 2011 and 2019.

During closing arguments, Duterte’s counsel Nicholas Kaufman suggested the ICC should also investigate alleged abuses under the current Marcos administration.

Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls countered that Duterte himself foreclosed that possibility by withdrawing the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019, stripping the Court of jurisdiction over subsequent events.