The confirmation of charges in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, will start on Monday, February 23, 2026.

According to the ICC, the hearing will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time in The Hague (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Philippine time) at Courtroom I of Pre-Trial Chamber I. Subsequent hearings are scheduled on February 24, 26, and 27.

During the confirmation of charges, the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Common Legal Representatives of the Victims (CLRV) will present their arguments to the judges. The ICC allocated the following time for oral presentations:

• Prosecution: 30 minutes for opening statements, 2 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits, and 30 minutes for closing statements.

• CLRV: 30 minutes for opening statements, 1 hour and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits, and 30 minutes for closing statements.

• Defence: 30 minutes for opening statements, 3 hours and 30 minutes for submissions on the merits, and 30 minutes for closing statements.

The ICC noted that the schedule may be adjusted depending on the proceedings. The hearings can be viewed online with a 30-minute delay via the ICC website, Facebook, and YouTube.

“The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged,” the ICC said.

“If one or more of the charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial.”

The Chamber has set February 16 as the deadline for submitting arguments, objections, and comments in Duterte’s case.

Duterte is currently detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague, on charges of crimes against humanity linked to killings during his administration’s war on drugs—both when he was mayor of Davao City and as president of the Philippines.

It can be recalled that the ICC has also named several officials as alleged co-perpetrators, including Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go; former police officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, and Isidro Lapeña; former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran; former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II; and other high-ranking Philippine National Police officials.

The ICC alleges that they were part of a “common plan” to “neutralize alleged criminals” through violent acts, including murder.

Some of those named have publicly denied the allegations. Senator Bong Go called the ICC document “unfounded” and “unfair,” while Aguirre denied involvement in any extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s controversial drug war.

Meanwhile, former police chief Camilo Cascolan passed away on November 24, 2023.