The ICC Registry has formally transmitted the pre-trial decision confirming charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court presidency. The charges involve crimes against humanity linked to his administration's anti-drug campaign and the Davao death squad. The presidency is expected to soon constitute a trial chamber for the case.
The ICC Registry, responsible for non-judicial aspects of the court's administration, formally transmitted Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision confirming all charges against Duterte. The ruling, issued on April 23, found substantial grounds to believe Duterte bears criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity tied to his administration's deadly anti-drug campaign and the killings by the so-called Davao death squad.
The transmission included indices of all filings, hearing transcripts, and evidentiary materials, classified as either 'secret' or 'confidential'. The ICC presidency, comprising a president and two vice presidents elected from ICC judges, will assign the case to a trial chamber.
No specific timeline exists for the trial proper to begin, but the ICC stated the trial chamber—composed of a new set of judges—'will soon be constituted'. Duterte's defense plans to challenge the pre-trial decision, though no public filing has been made as of Monday afternoon Manila time.
