Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled on September 18 that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial and can face crimes against humanity charges related to the anti-drug campaign he launched while in office.
Duterte is charged with murder and attempted murder over alleged involvement in dozens of killings. The former president denies the allegations but faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
According to the court in The Hague, Netherlands, independent medical experts examined Duterte, 81, and concluded he has the mental capacity to understand the evidence and discuss his defense strategy with his lawyers.
"The Chamber is satisfied that the accused can fully exercise his right to a fair trial during the proceedings," the court said.
Duterte's legal team had previously sought to have the case dismissed on medical grounds, arguing that severe memory loss left him unable to absorb new information or reliably recall the past.
The trial is expected to open on November 30.
Duterte served as Philippine president from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025 and taken to the ICC headquarters in The Hague following a lengthy investigation by the court.
Last month, he appeared in person before the ICC for the first time.
Duterte denies the charges, saying he only ordered police to act in self-defense during the anti-drug campaign. Judges also rejected his request for release on bail.
Estimates of the death toll in the anti-drug campaign under Duterte vary widely, from more than 6,000 cases reported by the national police to figures as high as 30,000 cited by human rights organizations.
Prosecutors say police and government death squads carried out dozens of killings on his orders, motivated by bounties or to avoid becoming targets of the campaign themselves.
Throughout his presidency, Duterte enjoyed high public approval ratings, which enabled him to pursue his hardline anti-drug program.
He became the first former Asian leader arrested by the ICC, a court tasked with prosecuting individuals for the world's most serious crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
