VP Sara Duterte is hoping for the ICC to do this.
VP Sara Duterte hopes the International Criminal Court will consider her father Rodrigo Duterte’s age and health as his case proceeds.
Recently, former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first in-person appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on September 16, 2026, more than 18 months after he was detained in March 2025. He attended the third status conference in his case involving alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
The ICC is currently preparing for the trial, which is scheduled to begin on November 30, 2026.
Ahead of the trial, Vice President Sara Duterte spoke about her father’s condition and expressed hope that the ICC will consider his health and age.
In an interview on Monday, September 21, Sara said she was glad that the ICC judges had finally seen Rodrigo Duterte during his recent appearance before the court.
“Masaya ako na nagkaroon ng status conference at finally nakita ng mga judges kung ano ang estado ni PRRD. Nakikita niyo na he’s of advanced age at sana ay mapag-usapan nila yung estado ng kalagayan ng kanyang kalusugan,” the vice president said.
Previously, the court considered issues concerning his health and ability to follow the proceedings. His defense team has raised concerns about his condition, including claims of cognitive decline.
However, the ICC has not yet made a final determination on his fitness to stand trial. The judges have indicated that further medical certainty is needed before resolving the matter.
To recall, the former president was arrested on March 11, 2025, after Philippine authorities received an arrest warrant through INTERPOL. He was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after arriving from Hong Kong.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!
