International Criminal Court judges have ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

The ICC will also hold a “confirmation of charges” hearing on February 23, where a judge will decide whether the prosecution’s charges against Duterte are sufficient to warrant a trial.

Duterte’s lawyers had earlier argued that the 80-year-old was unfit to participate in ICC proceedings. He has been detained in The Hague since March last year.

He is accused of criminal responsibility for dozens of murders during the so-called war on drugs, during which thousands of small-time drug dealers, addicts and others were killed without trial.

Duterte serves as President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He said peace and order would pave the way for economic development and justified the war on drugs.

Citing the opinion of a panel of medical experts, the ICC judges said they were “satisfied” that Duterte “is able to effectively exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to participate in pre-trial proceedings.”

In their ruling on Monday, the ICC judges also said that the mental capacity required for the “meaningful exercise of one’s procedural and fair trial rights” need not reach the “highest theoretical level”.

“This ruling tells victims that their voices will not be marginalized by technical circumvention in Duterte’s trial at the International Criminal Court,” said Leila de Lima, one of Duterte’s fiercest critics and a congresswoman who was jailed during Duterte’s presidency on drug charges that were later found to be false.

Duterte was arrested at Manila airport in March 2025 amid a breakdown in his family’s alliance with his successor, President Ferdinand “Bongbang” Marcos Jr.

His arrest has divided Filipinos. While his deadly drug crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from civil society, his populist message resonates with those who feel marginalized by Manila’s political elite.

Last May, Duterte Elected mayor of Davao City Even in jail.

His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is widely expected to run for president in the 2028 elections, leaving Marcos ineligible to seek re-election.