\n
The confirmation hearing marks a pivotal step that will determine whether the case proceeds to trial.<\/p>\n
The purpose of the four-day hearing, taking place in The Hague, is to determine whether there are \u201csubstantial grounds to believe\u201d that Mr. Duterte committed the crimes charged by the ICC Prosecutor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chamber shall not take any decision with regard to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Duterte during this hearing,\u201d said Iulia Antoanella Motoc, the Presiding Judge.<\/p>\n
The 80-year-old former leader also previously served as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City \u2013 one of the largest in the country.<\/p>\n
He is suspected of crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder allegedly committed between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.<\/p>\n
The charges and arrest<\/h2>\n
According to the prosecution, the case comprises three counts of crimes against humanity: murders in or around Davao City during his mayoral period allegedly carried out by the so-called \u201cDavao Death Squad\u201d; murders of so-called \u201chigh-value targets\u201d during his presidential period; and murders and attempted murders in barangay (the lowest administrative division) clearance operations during his presidency.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Duterte and his co-perpetrators shared a common plan to neutralise alleged criminals in the Philippines…through violent crimes, including murder,\u201d the courtroom officer said, reading out the prosecution\u2019s charges.<\/p>\n
An arrest warrant was issued under seal on 7 March 2025 and reclassified four days later. On 12 March, Mr. Duterte was surrendered to the Court after being arrested by Philippine authorities. He remains at the ICC Detention Centre in Scheveningen in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Burden of proof<\/h2>\n
ICC suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe burden of proof is upon the OTP (Office of the ICC Prosecutor), which must produce sufficient evidence to prove the charges against Mr. Duterte at the required standard of proof,\u201d said Judge Motoc.<\/p>\n
Victim participation<\/h2>\n
At the hearing, prosecutors \u2013 represented by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang and senior trial lawyers \u2013 must support each charge with sufficient evidence. Mr. Duterte\u2019s defence team \u2013 led by Nicholas Kaufman \u2013 will also present arguments.<\/p>\n
The legal representatives of the 539 victims will lay out their cases before the judges.<\/p>\n
What happens next<\/h2>\n
Within 60 calendar days after the hearing concludes, the judges will issue a written decision on whether to proceed.<\/p>\n
They may confirm some or all of the charges and commit the case to trial before a Trial Chamber; decline to confirm the charges and halt proceedings; or adjourn the hearing and request additional evidence or amendments.<\/p>\n
The International Criminal Court<\/h2>\n
The ICC is a permanent international tribunal based in The Hague that prosecutes individuals accused of the gravest crimes under international law, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.<\/p>\n
It was established by the Rome Statute, a treaty adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2002, which sets out the Court\u2019s jurisdiction, powers and procedures and binds the States that have ratified it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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