ICC jurisdiction on Duterte to be determined on April 22
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to deliver its judgment on April 22 regarding former President Rodrigo Duterte's appeal challenging the court's jurisdiction over his case.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber is scheduled to deliver its judgment on former President Rodrigo Duterte's appeal challenging the court's jurisdiction on April 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The Hague time (6:00 p.m. Philippine time). This ruling addresses Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision on October 23, 2025, which rejected Duterte's jurisdictional challenge in the case The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The case involves alleged crimes against humanity (murder and attempted murder) related to Duterte's anti-drug campaign during his tenure as Davao City mayor (2010-2016) and president of the Philippines (2016-2022). Duterte's defense team filed a notice of appeal on October 28, 2025, and an appeal brief on November 14, 2025, arguing there is no legal basis for ICC proceedings and seeking his immediate release.
Duterte, now 81 years old, was arrested on March 12, 2025, following a secret ICC arrest warrant issued on March 7, 2025, and made public on March 11, 2025. He has been detained at the ICC's Scheveningen detention facility in The Hague since his surrender. The former president recently marked his second birthday in ICC custody and waived attendance at the confirmation of charges hearing held from February 23-27, 2026, citing non-recognition of the court's jurisdiction. The Appeals Chamber is presided by Judge Luz del Carmen Ibåñez Carranza of Peru, with Judges Tomoko Akane, Solomy Balungi Bossa, Gocha Lordkipanidze, and Erdenebalsuren Damdin.
The judgment will be delivered in open court and live-streamed on the ICC website, YouTube, and Facebook platforms. A scheduling order for this ruling was issued on April 2, 2026, by Judge Ibåñez Carranza. The ICC maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a State Party to the Rome Statute, from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019, despite the country's withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. The Pre-Trial Chamber's October 2025 decision affirmed this jurisdiction, which Duterte is now appealing.
Major Philippine news outlets including the Philippine Inquirer, ABS-CBN, and GMA Network have reported on the upcoming ruling. The Inquirer noted the April 22 announcement regarding Duterte's appeal and mentioned the Maundy Thursday scheduling notice. ABS-CBN confirmed the Appeals Chamber decision on the jurisdiction challenge set for April 22, while GMA detailed the three-page order and Duterte's request for reversal and release. Following the April 22 ruling, Pre-Trial Chamber I must decide within 60 days whether there is sufficient evidence to confirm the charges against Duterte.
Join the discussion
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below.