MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Registry warned that Filipino and Cebuano interpreters may not be available for the trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte if it would begin in November as desired by the prosecution panel.
The Registry said interpreters would be available in January 2027 at the earliest.
In submissions made public over the weekend and in response to an order from Trial Chamber III, the Registry detailed critical logistical and protective measures required before proceedings can begin. The filing comes ahead of a May 27, 2026 status conference in the case, which concerns alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s war on drugs.
While English and French interpretation will be available immediately, the Registry noted that the court’s Language Services Section has begun recruiting four interpreters for Filipino and Cebuano.
However, the process—including vacancy announcements, interviews, security vetting, medical clearance, and onboarding—means that even if candidates join in August 2026, they cannot be deployed in the courtroom until January 2027.
The Registry stressed that a preparation period of at least six months is essential for trainees to master simultaneous interpretation techniques, court terminology, case-specific content, and technical platforms.
