The International Criminal Court's appeals chamber ruled on April 22, 2026, to reject all four grounds of former president Rodrigo Duterte's appeal on jurisdiction, stemming from the Philippines' 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The decision clears the path for the pre-trial chamber to determine if the case proceeds to trial, expected by April 28. Both Duterte's critics and supporters in The Hague vowed to continue their campaigns.
In The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC's appeals chamber dismissed former president Rodrigo Duterte's appeal by majority vote on April 22, 2026. Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza stated that the four grounds—including interpretations of Rome Statute Articles 12(2) and 127(2)—lacked merit. The panel included Judges Tomoko Akane, Solomy Balungi Bossa, Gocha Lordkipanidze, and Erdenebalsuren Damdin. The ruling affirms the ICC's jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity committed before the Philippines' 2019 withdrawal.
Philstar detailed the grounds: first, Article 127(2) as 'lex specialis'; second, preliminary examination not a 'matter under consideration'; third, 'the court' excluding the Office of the Prosecutor; fourth, the statute's object and purpose. The chamber rejected all, with Lordkipanidze dissenting on the second.
Outside the ICC, the Duterte Panagutin Network Europe rallied, with convenor Icai Enriquez stating, “The purpose of international law is to make sure that countries like the Philippines... would be able to have an opportunity to still fight for justice at... the ICC.” Aldo Gonzalez said in Filipino, “Under the Duterte administration, killings without due process... were normalized.” Supporters heckled but Janet Suliman affirmed, “Laban pa rin. Ipagpatuloy pa rin natin.” (The fight continues. We will carry on.)
Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte's chief legal counsel, said he was “not surprised” due to the ICC's “political context.” “We maintain everything that we argued at confirmation, and we believe... [it] will lead ultimately to his acquittal,” Kaufman stated. The defense team is preparing for a possible trial, though Duterte does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.
