THE HAGUE — The defense team of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said it will seek permission to appeal after the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed crimes against humanity charges against him in a ruling issued Thursday.
Lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman said the defense will file a request for leave to appeal, which is required before the ICC Appeals Chamber can review the decision.
The ICC said appeals on confirmation of charges are not automatic and must be authorized by the pre-trial judges.
Kaufman questioned the evidentiary basis of the ruling, saying the decision relied on testimony he described as uncorroborated and disputed the assessment of witness credibility at the confirmation stage.
The ICC Office of the Prosecutor said the ruling reflects the strength of its investigation and said it established substantial grounds to believe Duterte is responsible for the alleged crimes. It said it will continue pursuing the case on behalf of victims.
The case stems from allegations linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Human rights groups and victim representatives said the confirmation decision advances accountability and strengthens efforts to seek justice for killings attributed to the campaign.
Legal representatives for victims said the ruling marks progress toward trial proceedings and noted that families continue to seek accountability.
Under ICC rules, a Trial Chamber will be formed to handle the case. It will set procedural timelines, including the start of trial and rules on evidence disclosure.
Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and is currently detained in The Hague. He has participated in some proceedings via video link and has waived attendance at others.
Under the Rome Statute, defendants are generally required to be present during trial proceedings, unlike some pre-trial hearings where attendance may be waived.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, welcomed the confirmation decision, calling it a step toward accountability.
Former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo criticized the ruling, saying it lacked evidentiary basis. Several Philippine officials, including Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Bong Go, also questioned the decision.
The ICC has not yet announced a schedule for the trial.
