ICC didn’t dismiss crimes towards humanity case towards Duterte

The previous president stays detained in The Hague, together with his legal professionals in search of his interim launch. In the meantime, his September 23 affirmation of costs listening to has been indefinitely postponed.

Declare: The Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) has formally dismissed the crimes towards humanity case towards former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Ranking: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video containing the declare has 1,100 views and 82 likes as of writing. It was uploaded on a YouTube channel claiming to be a information outlet, which has 39,500 subscribers.

The title within the video states: “Hala kumpirmado na! Sa wakas, dismissed na ang kaso ni Tatay Digong, BBM walang mukhang maiharap!”

(Wow, it’s confirmed! Lastly, Father Digong’s case has been dismissed. [Bongbong Marcos] can’t even face him!)

The details: The ICC has not dismissed the crimes towards humanity case towards Duterte. The worldwide tribunal has but to start the trial of the previous president in connection together with his bloody drug struggle. Since his March 2025 arrest, Duterte has been detained at Scheveningen Jail in The Hague, Netherlands. 

The video gives no proof for its declare, merely counting on a clickbait title to attract viewers.

Postponed listening to: Duterte was initially set to face a pre-trial listening to on September 23, which might decide whether or not there have been substantial grounds to proceed to a trial.

On September 8, the ICC indefinitely postponed the affirmation of costs listening to after Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, argued that the previous president was “not match to face trial.” 

Kaufman cited Duterte’s “deteriorating cognitive situation,” which he stated prevents the previous president from correctly recalling occasions, assimilating proof, and giving directions to his legal professionals. (READ: Duterte has ‘deteriorating cognitive situation,’ says lawyer. What now?)

The ICC’s pre-trial chamber I voted 2-1 to postpone the listening to, with Choose María del Socorro Flores Liera dissenting, saying it was untimely to postpone the listening to on the stage of the pre-trial chamber.

The prosecution and the ICC Workplace of the Public Counsel for Victims additionally opposed the request, however have been overruled. Victims’ lawyer Kristina Conti referred to as the protection’s claims a “calculated ploy to delay accountability,” noting that Duterte might waive his presence on the listening to and have counsel characterize him beneath ICC guidelines.

Interim launch: Duterte’s authorized workforce earlier filed a request for an interim launch on humanitarian grounds, citing an undisclosed third nation keen to host him beneath court-imposed restrictions. The ICC Workplace of the Prosecutor strongly opposed the request, citing flight danger, previous threats to court docket personnel, and potential witness intimidation. 

Duterte’s workforce reiterated the interim launch request in August. The previous president can be exploring the opportunity of being launched to the Netherlands. 

Debunked: Rappler has beforehand debunked comparable posts falsely stating that Duterte had already been launched from ICC custody:

 – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science scholar at Cebu Regular College (CNU). An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2025, she can be the characteristic editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official scholar publication.