MANILA, Philippines — The trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) could begin in September 2026, although the schedule has yet to be finalized, according to one of the legal representatives of victims in the case.
In an interview on Monday, lawyer Golbert Andres said the start of trial proceedings remains subject to the court’s calendar and procedural developments, including pre-trial matters.
He said that once the trial begins, Duterte would be required to personally appear before the court, where the charges against him would be formally read and he would be asked to enter a plea.
Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity in connection with alleged killings linked to his anti-drug campaign.
Andres said changes in Duterte’s defense legal team are not expected to derail the timetable of proceedings.
“From the perspective of the victims, it should not affect the trial,” Andres said, noting that even defense submissions before the ICC acknowledged that proceedings should continue despite changes in legal representation.
He explained that under ICC rules, an accused may change counsel at any stage of proceedings, including during pre-trial and trial phases, but this must not result in undue delay.
Andres said that victims’ representatives would continue to press for proceedings to move forward without unnecessary interruptions.
